§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the farm of Leitrim Hill, situate near Tubbercurry, in the county of Sligo, and forming portion of the Harlech estate, recently sold to the tenants under the Act of 1903, is still in the possession of Mr. Charles Phibbs, J.P., an extensive landlord and grazier, who uses it as a grazing ranch; and whether, seeing that this farm is much required for the enlargement of the small holdings surrouning it, and that Mr. Phibbs, who owns estates and farms in other counties, has expressed his willing to give up Leitrim Hill on being paid compensation, steps will be taken by the Estates Commissioners to have this farm taken over for the relief of congestion in the district?
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have already made inquiries regarding the farm in question, and have ascertained that it does not now form I part of Lord Harlech estate, but is the property in fee simple of Mr. Phibbs, who purchased it from the late Lord Harlech some years ago, and who does, not now desire to dispose of it.
§ MR. O'DOWDIs not this grazing land situated in the centre of the congested portion of this estate, and did not Mr. Phibbs tell a deputation who waited on him that he was willing to surrender the farm?
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Estate Commissioners inform me that he does not desire to dispose of it. I will inquire further.