§ MR. CONOR O'KELLYTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the attempts that are being made by landlords in the west of Ireland to auction their untenanted land, 153 and refusing to sell to the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that this land is urgently required for the purpose of remedying congestion, ho proposes to take any steps in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that the Congested Districts Board have knowledge of only one such case as is referred to, namely, a case in which a landowner contemplated the sale in lots by auction of the occupation interest in a farm at Crannagh, county Mayo. Ultimately six out of the seven lots for sale were disposed of without an auction, and it was, when I last heard, intended to sell the seventh lot also. The Congested Districts Board were not approached by the landlord in this matter. The steps which I am taking are the suggesting to the Board that they should inquire if land coming into the market is suitable for their purposes; and, if so, whether the landlord would sell it to them.