§ Mr. JOHN ROCHEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have yet made an offer to Lord Clanricarde for the purchase of his Galway estate?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)No offer has been made by the Estates Commissioners for this estate.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the reason for the delay in regard to the sale of the Kinlea estate, J. F. V. Fitzgerald's, West Clare, the estate having been offered for sale in March, 1909; whether the difficulty has arisen through the exigency of the landlord in regard to price or through questions involved in the distribution of the turbary; and whether, in view of the feeling that has been caused through the transactions in connection with the estate and the condition of the tenants, steps will be taken to dispose of this case immediately?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that some delay was caused in regard to the sale of this estate by a difficulty as to forty acres of bog that were required by the Board. At present a reduction in the amount of the purchase money is required by the Board, and this has not yet been agreed to by the vendor. As soon as this matter is settled it is hoped that there will be no further difficulty in the way of completing the agreement for sale of the estate to the Board.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked whether, in consequence of the delay in applying the provisions of the last Land Act, tenants are being driven to emigrate from Quilty, West Clare; and whether, in view of the difficult circumstances of the tenants of the Quilty estate and the willingness of the landlord to sell, immediate steps will be taken to deal with this estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have received the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of the estate referred to. The lands will be inspected, and a decision arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. LYNCHWas not the only ground on which the Land Act was justified that it would deal with cases of this kind in districts in which there was considerable distress?
§ Mr. BIRRELLWe are proceeding as rapidly as we possibly can.