§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the non-residential grazing farm of Oldrock, on the estate of Major O'Boyle, situate in the electoral division of Cloonoughill, Tubercurry Union, County Sligo, has been purchased by the present occupier, Mr. Robinson, under either the Land Purchase Acts of 1896 or 1903; and, if not, whether, seeing that thirty families wore evicted from this farm within the last thirty years, the Estates Commissioners will be empowered to enter into negotiations with the owner of the estate, with the object of acquiring this land for the purpose of enlarging the small holdings surrounding it and providing farms for surviving members of the families of former evicted tenants.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners are unable to identify 267 any proceedings under the Land Purchase Acts for the sale of the farm mentioned in the Question. No applications have been received from evicted tenants for reinstatement on Major O'Boyle's estate. The Commissioners already possess powers for the acquisition by voluntary agreement of land which may be suitable for their purposes.