§ MR. SHEEHAN (Cork County, Mid.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any, and, if so, what, steps to acquire, for purposes of distribution amongst the labourers and others, the non-residential farm of John Jeffcott, on the M. V. Blacker-Douglas Estate at Ballylongford, County Kerry; have agreements to purchase been filed in respect of this estate; if so, is there an agreement from Patrick Dineen in respect of Jeffcott's holding; and is he aware that Mr. Jeffcott offered, through Canon Hayes, to sell his interest to the Estates Commissioners, but that they refused to move in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners do not propose to take any steps to acquire the farm in question. Agreements for the purchase of the 1657 estate have been lodged, including one signed by Jeffcott for the purchase of this farm, which he has since assigned to Patrick Dineen. Jeffcott had first offered through Canon Hayes to sell his interest to the Estates Commissioners, who refused to take any action in the matter.