HC Deb 11 July 1911 vol 28 cc199-202
Mr. BOLAND

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the agent of the estate of the late Major Mahony, at Dooks, county Kerry, has now furnished the necessary maps and documents in connection with the negotiations for the sale of the property; and when the final decision will be come to and communicated to the tenants?

Mr. GULLAND (Lord of the Treasury)

The Congested Districts Board have not yet been furnished with the maps and other documents in connection with the proposed sale of this estate.

Mr. BOLAND

asked what further steps, if any, have been taken to secure the consent of Mr. Myles O'Mahony for the sale of his estate in the parish of Tuogh, county Kerry; and whether, in the event of the landlord declining to enter into any negotiations, steps will be taken to put into operation the compulsory powers of the Congested Districts Board?

Mr. GULLAND

The Congested Districts Board have recently received a memorial from the tenants on this estate asking them to use their compulsory powers for the purpose of acquiring the estate. The memorial will be submitted to the Board at their meeting on the 18th instant.

Mr. DELANY

asked whether the Estates Commissioners received copies of resolutions passed at a meeting of the tenants on the estate of Sir Algernon Coote, at Kyle, Queen's County, held on the 6th October, 1907, calling attention to the existence of uneconomic holdings on the estate, and directing their attention to certain estates which might be purchased for improvement of such holdings; whether the secretary to the tenant's organisation has, at the request of the Commissioners, furnished particulars of the names and addresses of the following landowners having estates in the district, namely, Miss White, Alexandria College, Dublin, the Reverend William Stone, Algoa, Foxrock, county Dublin, and Robert White, Woodview, Stillorgan, county Dublin; and whether those owners have been approached with a view to purchase; and, if so, how much land has been purchased and how many holdings on this estate have been enlarged?

Mr. GULLAND

The reply to the first and second paragraphs of the question is in the affirmative. The Estates Commissioners have purchased 411 acres of un-tenanted land on the estate of Miss Henrietta White and others, and 490 acres of untenanted land on the estate of Robert Vicars White, Queen's county, and have allotted same. The Commissioners were in communication with Dean Stone's solicitor, but he has not instituted proceedings for the sale of his lands to the Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts. Twenty tenants on the Coote estate have received allotments on the estate of Miss White.

Mr. JOHN ROCHE

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer for the purchase of the Clanricarde estate; and, if not, when may they be expected to do so?

Mr. GULLAND

The Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for the purchase of this estate and they cannot at present say when they expect to do so. A complete survey and valuation of the estate has to be made and the work will occupy a considerable time.

Mr. DUFFY

asked whether any steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire the estate of John C. Bagot, known as the Bagot estate, Ballyturin, Gort, and with what result?

Mr. GULLAND

The Congested Districts Board communicated with Mr. John C. Bagot regarding the 3ale of his estate, but so far no definite reply has been received.

Mr. DUFFY

asked whether the tenants on the Bagot estate, Ballyturin, Gort, have repeatedly approached the landlord with a view to purchase; whether the estate is one consisting mainly of congested holdings, forty-three out of fifty-four holdings being uneconomic; whether the tenants requisitioned the Congested Districts Board to open negotiations with the landlord; and, seeing that he seems to be indisposed to sell, will the Congested Districts Board take steps to apply the compulsory power vested in them in respect to this estate?

Mr. GULLAND

The Congested Districts Board have no information as to the circumstances of the Bagot estate referred to other than what has been furnished to them in a memorial received from the tenants. On receipt of the memorial the Board communicated with the owner regarding the sale of his estate through them, but so far no definite reply has been received. The question of applying the compulsory Clauses of the Land Act in this case has not been considered by the Board.

Mr. DUFFY

asked whether the tenants on the Bagot estate, Ballyturin, Gort, in the townlands of Derreen, Ballyturin, Knockourane, Lisbrine, Bunnaglass, and Doonally prepared affidavits, maps, etc., in connection with the purchase of their holdings so long ago as January, 1910, and had them served on the Congested Districts Board through their solicitors; and whether any steps have been taken to give effect to the petition of the tenants, and with what result result?

Mr. GULLAND

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the tenants of the townlands of Derreen on the Bagot Estate, county Galway, furnished a map and verified schedule of areas and schedule of tenancies in February, 1910, but no maps have been lodged in respect of the other townlands referred to. The Board communicated with the owner regarding a sale of his property in May, 1910, and also in April last, but no definite reply has so far been received from him.