§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a memorial has been received by the Estates Commissioners, signed by occupiers of uneconomic holdings and the sons of small farmers and labourers in the locality, praying for the purchase of Aghanville Estate, near Geashill, for re-distribution amongst them; whether he is aware that this ranch of 500 acres was untenanted for the past twenty-five years and was taken by an eleven months grazier. at the beginning of the present year; can he say upon what terms the planter is in occupation; and what steps the Government propose taking to deal with the taking of untenanted land by graziers.
MR. BRYCEThe Estates Commissioners inform me that they received a memorial to the effect mentioned in March last. The memorial related to the untenanted land on the estate of Lady Guise at Killeigh, which would appear to be identical with that described in the Question as the Aghanville Estate. The Commissioners have ascertained that this land has been sold to Mr. James Dunne, in whose occupation it had been 1345 upon a grazing tenancy. The Commissioners have made a provisional otter for the purchase from Mr. Dunne of about 100 acres of the land, and negotiations are proceeding. I have no information as to how long the land had been untenanted.