§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that the inspection of the Colomb estate, near Caherciveen, was completed last March, and that the delay had caused loss to the tenants who had not signed purchase agreements; and whether steps would be taken by the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board to complete the sale before Christmas?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate was the subject of direct sale proceedings by the vendor to the tenants, but the Estates Commissioners, on consideration of their inspector's report, came to the conclusion that this was a "congested estate," and are now in communication with the Congested Districts Board with a view to the transfer of the sale proceedings to that Board.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that Charles O'Connell and Michael Sullivan, tenants on the estate of Mr. D. C. O'Connell, near Mastergeehy, were desirous of signing purchase agreements on the terms fixed by the Estates Commissioners; and whether the Congested Districts Board, which had bought the estate, would take the necessary steps to complete the sale?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that the estate referred to is about to be inspected and valued. In the meantime the Board cannot say how they will deal with the two tenants mentioned.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any progress had since been made by the Estates Commissioners towards the acquirement of the untenanted lands of Prospect, county Longford, or had the agent for R. H. Bond, J.P., Fairy Hall, Rathaven, been since communicated with by them?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo further progress appears to have been made in this matter.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked when the tenants on the estate of the late Mr. Patrick Rhatigan, J. P., at Lisameen and Drumnacross, county Longford, would receive their vesting orders, having regard to the fact that there was no legal impediment of any kind in settling this estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that this estate is the subject of direct sale proceedings under the Land Purchase Acts. It has not yet been reached in order of priority, but when reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. FARRELLWill it be reached this year or next year, or have we to wait another five years?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNot another five years.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked how many Sections in the Irish Land Act, 9 Edw. 7, were definition Sections; how many applications for sales by tenants in cases governed by Section 20 of that Act had been received by the Estates Commissioners up to 1st November, 1911; and had any money been advanced in any case governed by Section 20, 9 Edw. 7?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe question contained in the first paragraph is a legal one upon which I do not feel called upon to express an opinion. The Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to state how many applications for sales by tenants received by them are governed by Section 20. Their statistics do not distinguish the cases coming within that Section in which advances have been made.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYIf I repeat the question, when can the information be granted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not know that I am called upon to express an opinion on the subject. It is a purely legal question.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware of the discontent in West Clare owing to the reluctance of the Government to make the last Land Act operative in regard to the MacNamara and Leconfield estate in West Clare; whether all the difficulties that had been conjured up arose from the belief that the compulsory provisions had become a dead letter; and, if not, whether the Congested Districts Board would proceed without delay to deal with those estates employing, if necessary, their compulsory powers?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that they have received numerous applications on behalf of the tenants to purchase the estates referred to. Mr. MacNamara has informed the Board that he is not disposed to negotiate with them for a sale of his property. Lord Leconfield has not offered his estate to the Board. The question of taking compulsory proceedings for the purchase of these estates is engaging the attention of the Board, but the money available for compulsory purchase during the present financial year has been allocated.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary whether any progress had recently been made in regard to the purchase of the Leconfield estate, in West Clare; whether his attention had been called to the fact that, unless the Congested Districts Board acquired without further delay the Kildeemo farm on this estate, there was a danger that the land might be so divided up and disposed of as to defeat the intentions of the last Land Act; and whether steps would be taken to deal with this matter so as to secure the claims of the congests immediately interested?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe farm referred to has not, up to the present, been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board.
§ Mr. LYNCHWill it not be possible to put a certain amount of energy into the application of the last Land Act, so that it may be something of a vital reality?
§ Mr. BIRRELLA great deal of energy has been applied. What is wanted is a little more money.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary what progress the Estates Commissioners were making with the sale of the Mahony estate at Mount Collins, 1802 county Limerick, which they had declared to be a congested estate; and whether, as some of the farms on it were to be remodelled and consolidated, he would see the necessity for completing the sale as soon as possible?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners are proceeding with the rearrangement of this estate as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners intended to send an inspector to interview the tenants on the O'Grady Delmege property at Glensharrold, county Limerick, with the view to getting information from them about the estate being a congested one; and, if so, could he say when the inspector would visit the locality?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate referred to has not yet reached its turn to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners, and in the meantime I am not in a position to reply to the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary if he will explain why the name of Peter Farrell, who was evicted from the lands of Kilnacarron, county Longford, in 1885, and compelled to emigrate in order to obtain a living for his family, was not included in the list of evicted tenants for whom it was desirable to procure an equivalent holding in county Longford; whether he is aware that this man, who had saved some money in America, came home three times to county Longford since the Evicted Tenants Act was passed, hoping for relief under that Act, and had to return again owing to the action of the inspector, who, without inquiring into the facts, recommended his removal from the list; who was the inspector who did so; and will his case be reconsidered?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that Peter Farrell's application was received in November, 1903, and his name was provisionally noted for consideration. On inquiry it was ascertained that he and his family were resident in America, and in good circumstances, and that his former holding was in the occupation of another tenant, in whom it had been vested under the Land Purchase Acts. Farrell cannot, therefore, be reinstated in his former holding, and the Commissioners are not prepared to provide him with another holding.
Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement under the Evicted Tenants Acts for the family of the late Charles Hughes, Brannoxtown, Frim, county Meath, T. Carew, landlord; and, if so, can he state when the application is likely to be considered?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received an application on behalf of Ellen Hughes for, reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by her father on this estate, but as the application was not received within the period limited by the Evicted Tenants Act. 1907, the Commissioners are unable to deal with the case under the provisions of that Act.
§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked the Chief Secretary how many evicted tenants in county Fermanagh were noted by the Estates Commissioners for restoration to their old holdings or provision of new holdings; and how many of those so noted have been restored or had new holdings provided for them?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSeventy evicted tenants or their representatives have been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with new holdings in county Fermanagh. In addition the names of thirty applicants for reinstatement in holdings formerly occupied by them in that county are noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land acquired by the Estates Commissioners.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have communicated with Mr. T. Huggard, Denny Street, Tralee, receiver of the John P. Stack estate at Macknaugh, Lixnaw, North Kerry, with a view to purchasing the lands, comprising forty-three small and seven medium sized holdings, all in a congested condition; and whether he can say what is the present condition of the purchase negotiations?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have communicated with Mr. Huggard stating that if the owner was willing to negotiate for a sale of the estate referred to the necessary maps and documents should be furnished, but up to the present these have not been received.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary whether an inspection and an offer to purchase has been made by the Congested Districts Board to Mr. Eyre Stack for his 1804 tenanted and untenanted lands at Menvoo and Ballyconnery, North Kerry; and whether he can say what are the prospects of the immediate purchase of the land to relieve local distress and congestion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board had an inspection made of the untenanted lands, and made an offer for purchase, which was refused. The Board are willing to purchase both the tenanted and untenanted lands in question, but Mr. Eyre Stack states that he is not empowered to sell the tenanted lands during his mother's lifetime.
§ Mr. FLAVINWas not this man's estate before the Congested Districts Board four years ago, and is it not time that compulsory proceedings were taken to acquire it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThey will consider that.
§ Mr. FLAVINThey have considered it a long time.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of the complaints made by the tenants on the Ormathwaite estate to the agent at the time of and before the purchase agreements were signed as to the continuous damage done to their land by flooding; whether he is aware that the agent expressed his willingness to leave the question to the Estates Commissioners; whether the lands have yet been inspected and reported on; and, if so, what fund or funds will be set aside as a fraction to the tenants before vesting orders are issued to them?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs the hon. Member has already been informed, the question of these lands being liable to floods will be considered when the estate is being dealt with in order of priority. The Estates Commissioners hope to have the lands inspected at an early date.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that agreements to purchase this estate were signed five years ago, and nothing has been contributed to the upkeep of the farms by the landlord or the land agent?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI will communicate those facts to the Board.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary whether the particulars required by the Congested Districts Board have been supplied by the Land Judge on the John Sands estate, in North Kerry; and, if so, 1805 whether an inspection and an offer to purchase has been made by the Board to the Land Judge, and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe particulars required by the Congested Districts Board for the purpose of a preliminary inspection of this estate have not so far been supplied to the Board. On receipt of the necessary documents the property will be inspected and a decision arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that three months ago the judge of the Court promised to supply particulars? Surely it is time it was done?
§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary whether Colonel Rice, of Bushmount, Causeway, county Kerry, has yet replied to the communication of the Congested Districts Board asking him whether he is willing to sell to the Board; and, if not, whether the Congested Districts Board have taken any action with a view to the compulsory purchase of these congested holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLColonel Rice has not yet replied to the communication asking him whether he desired to negotiate for a sale of the property through the Congested Districts Board. The Board do not at present propose to take any action with a view to the compulsory purchase of the estate, as the money available for compulsory purchases during the present financial year has already been allocated.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the landlord, eighteen months ago, was approached by the Congested Districts Board he treated it with contempt?