MR. C. MACVEIGH (Donegal, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, in view of the fact that deficiency of staff is no cause of delay in completing land purchase, why it is that no inspector has yet been sent to the M'Kay estate at Lough Fern, county Donegal, although agreements were signed by these tenants on 1st May, 1904; whether he is aware that this delay, in addition to other losses, prevents the tenants from leasing valuable sporting rights; and whether he will take steps to see this sale carried through without further delay.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The purchase agreements in this case were lodged on 9th October, 1905. The Estates Commissioners will not be able to deal with the case for some time yet, having regard to the many cases still undisposed of in which agreements were lodged at an earlier date.