§ MR. HAYDENTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many grass farms in the rural district of Athlone, county Roscommon, have been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; who are the owners of these farms; whether the farms have been inspected; if so, the offers made to the owners; have they been accepted; and what is the price offered per statute acre.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners are not in a position to give the information asked for, seeing that their records are not kept by rural districts but by counties. The Commissioners have agreed to purchase certain untenanted lands in county Roscommon, and negotiations for other purchases are proceeding. Until further progress has been made the Commissioners do not think it desirable to furnish piecemeal information as regards particular counties.