§ MR. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the inspector was sent down last January to report with reference to the Ely evicted tenants; and whether anything has since been done to put those tenants back in their homes.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have had an inspection made of the untenanted lands on the Ely estate, but have not yet found it practicable to adopt a scheme for the distribution of the lands, and in the circumstances the Commissioners advised the agent of the estate to let 1400 the land for the present season in order to avoid loss. The evicted tenants and others to whom it may eventually be decided to allot holdings will receive due notice of the fact.