§ MR. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the price paid by the Congested Districts Board for the Blake property in Bunowen, in Connemara; whether he is aware that the holdings, about 100, on this estate are utterly uneconomic, consisting principally of rocks; whether he is aware that the reservation of the demesne lands by the landlord precludes the tenants from acquiring the only land that would improve the position of the tenants; and whether steps will at once be taken to prevent this reserved land being let to graziers and secured to the tenants.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have agreed to purchase 3,484 acres of land from Mr. Blake for £8,868. The demesne, consisting of 200, acres, is to be resold for £2,000. The balance of 3,284 acres is therefore being acquired for £0,868. Of this area 3,017 acres consist of tenanted land occupied by fifty-seven tenants, whose rents average £5 each. The remaining 267 acres will be used for enlarging some of the holdings, but unless the Board are able to purchase other untenanted land they will not be able to enlarge the majority of the holdings. The Board have no control over the lands retained by the owner.