§ Mr. BOLANDasked whether the attention of the Congested Districts Board has been called to the resolution passed at a public meeting of the tenants on the F. G. Williams estate, at Mastergeehy, near Waterville, on the 21st instant; and whether the Board will take steps to give effect to the resolution by purchasing the estate on such terms that the grazing lands may be divided?
§ Mr. BIRRELLA copy of the resolution referred to has been received by the Congested Districts Board, and they have communicated with the owner asking whether he is willing to negotiate for the sale of his estate through the Board.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants of Sir Morgan O'Connell, in the townlands of Ballycarberry, Kimego, and Killelan, near Caherciveen, have frequently taken steps to complete purchase negotiations but without success; can he state at whose request and by what authority, without the consent of the tenants, a valuer named Mr. Green was sent to inspect the estate; whether the Estates Commissioners have any report on the subject; and what value, if any, was fixed on the land by this valuer?
§ Mr. BIRRELLProceedings have been instituted by the owner for the sale of this estate direct to the tenants, and purchase agreements signed by the tenants have been lodged in respect of some of the holdings. The estate was inspected in order of priority by one of the inspectors, and the Estates Commissioners have communicated to the owner the sums which they are prepared to advance in the case of outstanding holdings, and they have asked for purchase agreements at such prices.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked whether, in regard to the property of Mrs. White, Caherlean, Killard, West Clare, of which the agent is Mr. R. J. Stacpoole, of Ennis, and respecting which the tenants, numbering twenty-seven, have made application to the Congested Districts Board, he can state what is the present condition of the negotiations?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have been in communication with the agent, but so far they have not succeeded in arranging for negotiations for sale.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked whether, in the case of the estate of R. J. Stacpoole, Farrihy, West Clare, the tenants having, after the enactment of the Land Act of 1909, written to the landlord and offered him more than his yearly income out of the property, and the landlord having declined to sell on the ground that there was no money available for payment in cash, and the tenants having thereupon applied to the Congested Districts Board, the Chief Secretary can state what is the present situation in regard to this property; and whether prompt steps will be taken to give relief under the last Land Act to the tenants, numbering about one hundred and twenty?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have no means of knowing what passed between the owner and his tenants. I understand that the Congested Districts Board are making inquiries with regard to the estate. Pending the result of these inquiries, the Board are not in a position to enter into negotiations for its purchase.