HC Deb 09 November 1908 vol 195 cc1660-3
MR. PATRICK WHITE (Heath, N.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many evicted tenants in the County of Meath have been reinstated in their former or obtained equivalent holdings; and how many applications from the same county remain to be dealt with.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that 273 applications were received from persons seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants or the representatives of tenants evicted from holdings in County Meath. After inquiry the Estates Commissioners decided not to take any action in 118 cases; fifty-five applicants have been reinstated or provided with other holdings and thirty-one applications have been noted for consideration in connection with the allotment of untenanted land. The cases of the remaining sixty-nine applicants cannot be dealt with under the Evicted Tenants Act, but will be inquired into when the estates on which they were tenants are being dealt with under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

MR. PATRICK WHITE

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mr. Hopkins, an evicted tenant on the estate of Colonel Lyster Smythe, Nobber, County Meath, has applied to be reinstated in his former holding; and, if so, whether, as the farm from which he was evicted is still in the occupation of the landlord, they will compulsorily acquire it in order to effect his restoration.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Francis Hopkins, and will consider it in connection with the distribution of untenanted laid in County Meath which they hope to acquire. His former holding cannot be acquired compulsorily under The Evicted Tenants Act, 1907.

MR. PATRICK WHITE

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have purchased the estate of Admiral Singleton, Drumconrath, County Meath; if Thomas Kirk, an evicted tenant on the estate has applied to be reinstated in his former holding; and whether the Estates Commissioners will exercise the powers vested in them to acquire for him his former holding, which is still in possession of the landlord.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate belonging to Admiral Singleton, which was sold under the Irish Land Act, 1903, did not, include Thomas Kirk's former holding, and the Commissioners do not propose to acquire it compulsorily, but they have noted Kirk's application with a view to his being provided with another holding on untenanted land to be acquired by them.

MR. PATRICK WHITE

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Ternan, an evicted tenant on the Balfour estate, Townley Hall, Progheda, applied to the Estates Commissioners for reinstatement in his former holding, and that the inspector who visited the estate promised him a portion of the untenanted land; will he explain why the promise was not fulfilled; and whether the Commissioner will take early action to secure him a farm.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the lands on the Balfour estate referred to in the Question were, with their approval, allotted by the owner to a former occupier. Their inspector had no power to promise them to anyone. The Commissioners will consider Ternan's application when they are distributing untenanted land elsewhere.

MR. PATRICK WHITE

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Miss Rose A. O'Reilly, who was evicted from the lands of Gibbonstown, on the Wade, estate, County Meath, has applied to the Estates Commissioners to be reinstated in her former or an equivalent holding; and, if so, what action has been taken in her case.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners received an application from Philip O'Reilly and his daughter, Rose O'Reilly, for reinstatement in a holding on the Wade estate, which is now in the occupation of another tenant. The Commissioners have provided Philip O'Reilly with another holding in County Meath, and they do not propose to take any action in reference to Miss O'Reilly's application.

MR. PATRICK WHITE

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Eugene Farrelly, an evicted tenant on the estate of Philip Smyth, Kilmainham Wood, County Meath, has applied to the Estates Commissioners to be reinstated in his former holding, which is still on the hands of the landlord who evicted him; and, if so, what action has been taken in his case.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) This application was not received by the Estates Commissioners within the time specified by The Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Act, 1907. The estate is not pending for sale before the Commissioners, and they have not therefore been able to take any action in the matter.

MR. PATRICK WHITE

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what action has been taken to secure her former or an equivalent holding for Miss Margaret Clarke, Possers-town, Nobber, County Meath; whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired land in the neighbourhood of Kells; and whether, in the distribution of the land, they will consider the advisability of dealing with the claims of evicted tenants in County Meath before bringing tenants from other counties.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) As regards Miss Clarke's application I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar Question asked by him on 1st April last. The Estates Commissioners are acquiring land compulsorily in the neighbourhood of Kells, and will no doubt exercise due discretion in its distribution.