§ Mr. GINNELLasked whether the Estates Commissioners required to be embodied in every inspectors' report of an estate all the cases of congestion on the estate; whether from small-ness of area or infertility of soil, and all the untenanted land on or near the estate from which that congestion could be relieved; and whether they would, in future, require the enlargement of uneconomic holdings, where possible, before allowing the sale of an estate to be completed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn the case of estates which appear to be congested within the meaning of Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and Section 20 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, the inspectors are required to report whether any, and, if so, what, improvements could be made to relieve congestion, if the Estates Commissioners were in a position to deal with the lands as a congested estate. In the allotment of untenanted land the Commissioners have regard to the desirability of enlarging uneconomic holdings whenever it is possible to do so.
§ Mr. GINNELLWould that rule apply to any estate complying with the legal definition of congestion, or must it fall within the definition of the section even though there is real congestion there?
§ Mr. BIRRELLYes, I cannot deal with it outside the authority of the Act.