§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the end of September, 1906, there were 13,306 applications to fix fair rents and 9,329 appeals in connection with rents undisposed of by the Land Commission and county courts in Ireland; and whether any steps will be taken to deal with these applications at once.
MR. BRYCEI am informed by the Land Commission that the facts are as stated. Of the 13,306 applications mentioned, the number pending before the Sub-Commission Courts consisted of 7,732, as compared with 9,025 outstanding on 31st March last. That is to say, during the six months in question there was a decrease of 1,293 in the number of cases undisposed of, notwithstanding the fact that the summer vacation had intervened. The remainder of the applications, viz., 5,573, consist of cases apparently pending in the Civil Bill Courts, but this number includes part of an apparent but not real arrear of 4,915 cases brought forward from the year 1894 under the circumstances stated in the Annual Report of the Land Commission for that year. The 9,329 outstanding appeals referred to include 517 lodged during the vacation. The number outstanding on 31st March last was 9,043, as compared with 12,071 on 31st March, 1905. The question of expediting the hearing of applications and appeals is now under my consideration.