§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. James Martin, of Bryanstown, county Longford, who is the owner of a farm of 150 acres of land at Clogher, county Roscommon, is willing to sell the same to the Estates Commissioners for £3,000 for sub-division amongst smaller holdings; and will the Commissioners direct an inspection and offer to be made to Mr. Martin.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate referred to was recently sold to Mr. Martin as tenant-purchaser under the Act of 1903. The Commissioners are not aware that Mr. Martin is prepared to sell the holding, but in any event they are precluded by the Act of 1891 from making any further advances for the 469 purchase of the holding so long as it is subject to the repayment of the existing purchase annuity.