§ Mr. BOLANDasked what reply has been received from the owner of the F. G. Williams estate, near Mastergeehy, county Kerry, with respect to the negotiations for the purchase of the property by the Congested Districts Board?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe Congested Districts Board are in correspondence with the owner regarding this estate, and they understand that the documents necessary for a sale are being prepared for lodgment with them.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked when the Estates Commissioners propose to inspect the farm of Thomas Gill, an evicted tenant, on the Orpen estate, Kilgarvan, and to make an offer of purchase to the landlord who has the holding at present in his own hands, and who is willing to sell it to the Estates Commissioners, with a view to the reinstatement of this evicted tenant?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his question on this subject on 6th April last. This estate is on the Principal Register of Direct Sales, and the Estates Commissioners are not in a position at present to say when it will be reached.
§ Mr. FFRENCHasked whether the Estates Commissioners have been communicated with regarding the Boyd estate, at Duncormack, South Wexford, which is lying derelict; and whether any negotiations have been entered into with the owner with a view to purchase the estate and divide it amongst the labourers and persons in that neighbourhood with uneconomic holdings?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe Estates Commissioners are unable to identify this estate as the subject of proceedings for sale before them under the Land Purchase Acts, nor from the particulars given can they trace any correspondence on this subject.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked whether the Estates Commissioners are in possession of about 1,000 acres of untenanted land on the St. George estate, Cam, near Athlone, county Roscommon; whether they have prepared a scheme for the redistribution of this land; whether according to this scheme the whole of this land will be divided amongst about fifteen persons; whether possession has yet been given to any of these persons; whether there is dissatisfaction in the district in connection with this scheme, especially considering that there are several occupiers of uneconomic holdings in the immediate vicinity whose names have been forwarded to the Estates Commissioners; and whether, in view of these facts, the Estates Commissioners will take local feeling into consideration in connection with their scheme or, as an alternative, transfer this land to the Congested Districts Board?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe owner of this estate has accepted the formal proposal of the Estates Commissioners to purchase 840 acres of untenanted land for the sum 474 of £5,800, but the Commissioners have not yet acquired possession of the lands. The Commissioners have approved of a scheme for the allotment of these lands, and as at present advised see no reason for altering it. They are not prepared to discuss the details of a scheme prepared in the exercise of the discretion vested in them. If the Congested Districts Board desire to purchase this estate, and the owner consents, the Estates Commissioners will place no obstacle in the way of this being done.
§ Mr. HAYDENCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the statement contained in the question, that nearly 1,000 acres are to be divided amongst fifteen people, is a fact?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI can only say 848 acres is the amount of land the owner has agreed to sell to the Estates Commissioners?