§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Gore-Booth estate, situate in the vicinity of Ballymote, county Sligo, was one of the first in Ireland sold to the tenants under the Act of 1903; whether this estate has yet been vested, or its sale sanctioned, by the Estates Commissioners; and, if not, will he explain the cause of the delay.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the proceedings for the sale of this estate have been stayed, pending a settlement of the question as to the disposal of the untenanted land, consisting of 1,400 acres, on the estate. Until this question has been settled the advances cannot be sanctioned or the holdings vested in the tenants. The matter is still under the consideration of the Commissioners, and they will endeavour to have it disposed of as soon as possible.