§ MR. JAMES O'KELLY (Roscommon, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board have completed the purchase of a grazing farm at Knockhall, County Roscommon, from Mr. McGuire; and whether in the distribution of this land, the Congested Districts Board will have due regard to the fact that, in its immediate neighbour-hood, there are several occupiers of small uneconomic holdings, and to the feeling that a preference should be given to such occupiers of land.
§ MR. CHERRYThe Congested Districts Board have agreed to purchase the property in question, which is situate in a non-congested district. In such case the Board, after providing for the wants of congested districts, may enlarge the holdings of neighbouring occupiers in non-congested districts, but under the existing law they cannot enlarge such holdings of which the rateable value exceeds £5. Until the purchase has been completed the Board cannot give any undertaking as to how they will exercise their discretion in this particular case.