§ MR. J. MURPHYTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Congested Districts Board propose to retain the farms of Cragg and Ardcrone, County Kerry, in their possession, against the wishes of every representative person in the district; and whether, as a matter of fact, the lands have been in the hands of the Board now for several years without being used for any useful purpose.
§ MR. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the Answers which my predecessor gave to the numerous Questions put by him on this subject, and in particular to the Answer of 6th March, 1906. The persons for whose reinstatement claims have been locally advanced are not evicted tenants, but were defaulting annuitants under the Land Purchase Acts. The Congested Districts Board purchased the lands in question for the relief of congestion and must use them for that purpose only. As already repeatedly stated, it would be entirely against public policy to reinstate persons who have lost their holdings owing to default in payment of their annuities.