§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether care will be taken in respect to the distribution into holdings of the farm of Mr. Leonard Cannon, which closely adjoins the Bloomfield estate, Castlecaldwell, and which has been bought by the Estates Commissioners, having respect to the congested condition of the neighbourhood, that due regard will be had to the needs of local tenants.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have intimated by notice in the Dublin Gazette their intention of acquiring compulsorily 115 acres in County Fermanagh, the property of Mr. Council Cannon, The Commissioners propose to use these lands, if acquired, for the purpose of the Evicted Tenants Act.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the demesne lands, comprising about 500 acres, of the Bloomfield Estate, Castlecaldwell, owned by the Life Association of Scotland, was sold separately from, the rest of the estate to the Estates Commissioners last September, but that the deeds of conveyance cannot be obtained 478 till March next; whether he is aware that a very large proportion of this demesne land consists of land from which tenants have been evicted, and that these tenants or their representatives are now eagerly awaiting restoration to their old holdings; whether he will be able to obtain or to give information of the acreage of each holding from, which a tenant has been evicted; whether the Estates Commissioners propose to reinstate in their holdings those evicted tenants, and if the residue of the demesne lands will be kept as meadow for the poor mountain tenants on this estate, who have, no other means of raising hay for their cattle during the winter; and whether, having regard to the fact that the tenants on this estate are congested and require these demesne lands, on which there is no residential mansion, care will be taken to provide for their accommodation prior to the bringing of other evicted tenants from other parts of Fermanagh, and to secure that the proceedings for the restoration of the former tenants be expedited.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have not purchased this estate, but proceedings for its sale have recently been instituted under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903. Until the property has been inspected and reported on, the Commissioners will not be in a position to make arrangements as regards the demesne land.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman get these proceedings expedited?
§ MR. BIRRELLI always do my best, but I cannot be interfering with the Commissioners every day of the week.