§ MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a number of evicted tenants 1500 on the estate of Robert T. Longan, at Ballinacourty, county Waterford, having come to an arrangement with the owner as to their reinstatement, signed agreements to purchase in April, 1905; that, in October, 1906, an inspector of the Estates Commissioners, named Mr. P. V. Guiry, inspected the lands and informed the evicted tenants that they would be put back into possession in a very short time and would get grants to enable them to buy farming stock; whether, since October, 1906, any communication has been made to the evicted tenants, and will he say who is responsible for the prolonged delay in the matter; and whether there is any hope that the evicted tenants can now be reinstated under the agreements signed three years ago.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that six evicted tenants on the estate mentioned have agreed to purchase their former holdings as parcels under Section 2 of the Act. The Commissioners have estimated the advances they are prepared to make and the owner has agreed to accept these prices. The Commissioners also propose to make grants for the assistance of the purchasers, and these grants will be made when the evicted tenants are put into possession. The Commissioners have communicated with the owner upon this point. As the estate has been inspected and reported on, it is expected that the evicted tenants will soon be restored.