§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the disturbance that was imminent in the Kinvarra district, county Galway, during the past twelve months owing to the attitude taken up by the trustees of the Sharpe estate in respect to the sale of the estate; does he know that an understanding was arrived at last October, as between the agent to the property and the tenants, to the effect that a request would be made immediately to the Congested District Board to acquire the entire estate, including the town; has such a request been made; and what is the cause of the delay in dealing with this estate?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)I am aware that a certain amount of dissatisfaction existed in Kinvarra in connection with the sale of the Sharpe Estate. The estate comprises twenty-five agricultural tenancies and about forty-five houses in the town of Kinvarra. On the 2nd December last the agent of the estate wrote to the Congested District Board stating that the Trustees were willing to sell if a fair price is offered, but that they were unwilling to go to any expense about mapping until they see whether the sale could be arranged. 1905 On the 10th December the Board wrote suggesting a way out of the difficulty. No answer has yet been received.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary if he was aware that the district in and around Kinvarra was one of the most congested in the West of Ireland; had it come to his knowledge that the people for years back had been requesting the various public departments to purchase the available lands in the neighbourhood for allocation amongst them; could he say what time had now elapsed since the Blake-Foster Estate, Kinvarra district, was first offered for sale; was he aware that the agent, Mr. W. E. Holmes, Roscommon, offered the estate to the Congested Districts Board last May; and, having regard to the history of the estate and the conditions which prevail on this property, whether he would direct the attention of the Congested Districts Board to the estate and state the cause of their inaction?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am aware that the district surrounding Kinvarra is poor. The Blake Foster estate was offered to the Congested Districts Board on the 22nd September last, not in May, as alleged, and an inspector has been directed to visit the estate and make a valuation at as early a date as possible.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary whether the estate of Colonel Lopdell, Athenry, situated at Cappamore, Kinvarra, county Galway, is one of the estates to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners; has the estate been inspected and purchase sanctioned by the Commissioners seeing that a considerable number of years have passed by since the tenants agreed to purchase their holdings; and, having regard to the quantity of mountainous land on the estate which would become available for allotment if the property came on for settlement, whether he will call the attention of the Estates Commissioners to the delay in dealing with this property?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate referred to has not yet been inspected. It will be dealt with in order of priority, but, having regard to its position on the principal register of direct sales, the Estates Commissioners cannot at present say when its turn will be reached. When so reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board has been furnished with maps and all particu- 1906 lars respecting some grazing lands which Mr. Brady Murray, B.L., Northampton House, Kinvarra, has offered for sale to the Board; and whether, in view of the urgency of relieving congestion in the district, he will make a representation to the Board so that an inspection may be made of the lands with a view to purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that Mr. Brady Murray has lodged the necessary maps and rentals to enable an inspection of the estate to be made. The estate will be valued as soon as practicable.