§ 45. Mr. NEWMANasked whether any representatives of the landlord or tenant interest have been informally approached by the Government with a view to ascertaining the possibility of the Land Purchase (Ireland) Bill being introduced as an agreed-on measure?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The answer is in the negative.
§ 78. Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether the agreements made by the parish priest of Abbeylara, county Longford, on behalf of the tenants and uneconomic holders of land, with the landlady, Mrs. Shirley Ball, or the division of the untenanted lands of Toneymore, has yet been lodged with and, if so, ratified by the Estates Commissioners; and, if not, will they cause inquiry to be made as to the cause of the delay in concluding this matter as agreed upon?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe holdings on this estate are the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the vendor has included some 137 acres of untenanted land for sale to the Estates Commissioners for purposes of division when they are dealing with the estate in order of priority. The estate will not, however, be reached in order of priority for some years.
§ 81. Mr. O'MALLEYasked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer for purchase of the Martin estate, Ross, near Oughterard, county Galway, the maps of which have been lodged with the Board some months ago; whether the Chief Secretary is aware that this estate was one of the first brought under the notice of the Board after the passing of the Land Act of 1909, and that the tenants are consequently greatly discontented with the delay in its purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for the purchase of the property referred to. The maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection were only lodged with the Board in January last. The estate has been inspected, and the question of making an offer for it will probably be considered by the Board at their meeting next month.
§ 83. Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked whether the Estates Commissioners have considered the application of Mrs. Gallagher, of Listarush, an evicted tenant on the Wynne estate, Ballaghameehan, county Leitrim, for a grant to enable her to repair her house and stock her farm?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis application will be considered by the Estates Commissioners when they are dealing with this estate in order of priority.
§ 84. Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked whether the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board have yet purchased the Tottenham estate, Kiltubrid, county Leitrim; and, if not, whether, having regard to the fact that the tenants are all willing and anxious to purchase, they would be allowed to avail themselves of the benefits of the Purchase Act.
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board made an offer for the purchase of the estate referred to, which has not yet been accepted. If the Board purchase the estate it will be resold to the tenants under the Land Purchase Acts.
§ 89. Mr. DORISasked when Mr. Fitz-Gerald-Kenny lodged with the Congested Districts Board maps and documents relating to his congested estate near Ballyglass, county Mayo, with a view to a sale thereof through the Board; have the Board made an offer to Mr. FitzGerald-Kenny for the estate; and, if so, has it been accepted, and what has caused the delay in the negotiations and the completion of purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe maps and documents necessary for an inspection of Mr. Fitz-Gerald-Kenny's estate were lodged with the Congested Districts Board in May, 1912. The Board have not made any offer for the estate pending settlement of the question of the inclusion of some untenanted lands in the proposed sale.