§ MR. MEAGHER (Kilkenny, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if he will grant a Return of the number of tenants evicted from their holdings in county Kilkenny, according to State Returns issued in 1903; how many applications for reinstatement have been lodged up to 1st of May, 1907; the names and addresses of those who have been rejected under regulations of 13th of February, 1906; is he aware that a number have been debarred from lodging applications by reason of want of particulars which can be obtained only by examination of police Returns of evictions within the statutory term; and will he grant such facilities as will enable those tenants or their friends to lodge applications in due course.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Return to which the hon. Member refers shows the number of tenants evicted in the past twenty-five years in county Kilkenny, as well as in every other county in Ireland. All persons who were evicted within the twenty-five years preceding the Act of 1903, or who claim to be the representatives of such evicted tenants, may, if they think fit, send in applications for reinstatement. A very large number 581 of applications has been received, and it would not seem that facilities for lodging applications are in any wise lacking. As I have already stated, I hope after the end of this month to make a detailed statement as to the result of the Estates Commissioners' investigation into evicted tenants' application.