§ 15. Mr. DORISasked whether Mrs. Agnes McDonnell and Mrs. Pike have yet lodged with the Congested Districts Board maps and other necessary documents, 2630 with a view to sales through the Board of their estates in Achill, county Mayo?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe maps and other documents in connection with the estate of Mrs. Agnes McDonnell have been lodged with the Congested Districts Board, but those relating to the estate of Mrs. Pike have not yet been lodged.
§ 16. Mr. DORISasked whether the trustees of the Achill Mission have yet complied with the request of the Congested Districts Board to lodge the outstanding maps of their estate in Achill, county Mayo, or have they refused to do so?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe outstanding maps have not yet been lodged with the Congested Districts Board.
§ 17. Mr. DORISasked when the Congested Districts Board intend to distribute the Killery farm (late Lucan estate), county Mayo, amongst the occupiers of uneconomic holdings in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board cannot definitely state when the Killery farm will be divided, but the matter will be dealt with as soon as possible.
§ 18. Mr. DORISasked whether the property of Lord Avonmore (in Chancery), situate at Killavalla, county Mayo, has yet been offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board; and, if not, having regard to the poverty and congestion on this estate, whether the Board will apply to the Lord Chancellor to facilitate proceedings for the acquisition of the property by the Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are in communication with the agent of this property, who has informed them that the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of the estate with a view to purchase are being prepared for lodgment with the Board.
§ 19. Mr. DORISasked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet issued an offer for the estate of Mr. F. C. Garvey, Murrisk Abbey; and, if not, when they intend to do so?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have decided to make an offer for the purchase of this estate, and it will be issued as soon as practicable.
§ 21. Mr. DUFFYasked whether the Congested Districts Board have purchased the estate of Mr. B. P. Persse, Boyhill, Athenry; and, if so, when it is proposed to prepare a scheme for the allotment of the estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have decided to make an offer for the purchase of the estate referred to, and it will be issued as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot say.
§ 22. Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. F. S. Taylor. Castle Lambert, Athenry, offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners about 300 acres of land out of his estate at Castle Lambert; can he state if the lands were inspected; was an offer for purchase made; and, seeing that Mr. Taylor is willing to sell as much land as will benefit a number of small holders of land in the district, will be again bring the matter to the notice of the Estates Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The lands arc situate in a congested districts county and the Estates Commissioners informed the owner that, in their opinion, if the lands were to be sold under the Land Purchase Acts, they should be sold to the Congested Districts Board.
§ Mr. DUFFYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that people in the locality have requested the Congested Districts Board and the Estates Commissioners to take over this land?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have no doubt that the tenants are interested in getting the lands purchased, and I hope they will be acquired by the Congested Districts Board.
§ 23. Mr. DUFFYasked if the Congested Districts Board received a resolution from the Loughrea Rural District Council asking the Board, in the interest of the small farmers in the district of Castle Lambert, Athenry, to arrange, as between the Estates Commissioners and themselves, for the acquirement of 300 acres of land offered for sale by Mr. F. S. Taylor, Castle Lambert, Athenry; and if any steps have been taken to give effect to the representation made by the people of Athenry and the Loughrea Rural District Council?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have received a copy of the resolution, but they could not purchase the lands for the purpose of distribution amongst the persons to whom the lands are proposed to be given as these persons are not landholders.
§ 29 Mr. FLAVINasked whether the purchase of the John Sands estate, of which Mr. Denny, of Tralee;, is the receiver, has yet been completed; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are not now negotiating for the purchase of this estate. They have agreed to give their consent to a direct sale to the tenants under Section 58 of the Irish Land Act of 1909.
§ Mr. FLAVINHave the negotiations stopped because the landlord and the receiver are anxious to sell to the Congested Districts Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not know. I will inquire.
§ 30. Mr. FLAVINasked the result of the negotiations between the Congested Districts Board and Mr. P. D. Griffin, Cork, for the purchase of 100 acres of untenanted lands situate at Caharden, near Bally-bunion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are not at present in a position to reply to this question. Further inquiries are now being made.
§ Mr. FLAVINHave any communications passed between the Board and Mr. Griffin?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot tell.
§ 31. Mr. FLAVINasked when Mrs. Glazier, an evicted tenant on the Palmer estate, at Banemore, will be reinstated in her holding, which has been acquired by the Estates Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The Estates Commissioners have not acquired the holding referred to. The estate is the subject of direct sale proceedings between the owner and the tenants, and the Commissioners have informed the owner of the price they would be prepared to advance if an agreement is entered into between the owner and the former tenant, but up to the present no agreement has been lodged.
§ Mr. FLAVINThe right hon. Gentleman must be told by the Estates Commissioners. They have acquired an evicted farm compulsorily, and, knowing the exorbitant price fixed by the Judicial Commissioner, the Estates Commissioners will not take security for the money.
§ 32. Mr. FLAVINasked why the Congested Districts Board have not taken some practical steps to acquire the tenanted and untenanted lands of Mr. Eyre Stack situate at Ballyconnory and Meyvoo, North Kerry, which proposed sale is now pending for over five years?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 6th May last, to which I have nothing to add.
§ 33. Mr. FLAVINasked what further steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to purchase the Studdert estate, situate at Ballyyouneen, Liselton; and whether writs have been served on the tenants to pay rents which are impossible owing to the poor condition of their lands and the extensive flooding of the same?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are in communication with the owner, but so far the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of the estate with a view to purchase have not been lodged. The Board have no information in reference to the writs stated to have been served on the tenants.
§ 34. Mr. DUFFYasked whether the agricultural tenants on the estate of Viscount Gough, Gort, have signed agreements to purchase their holdings; whether an understanding was arrived at as between Viscount Gough, the Estates Commissioners, and the town tenants of Gort, on Viscount Gough's estate, that an inspection would be made of the town section of the property immediately after the agricultural tenants had signed their agreements; and what action the Estates Commissioners propose to take to carry out the agreement?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have had an inspection made of this property and have made a proposal to purchase the agricultural holdings, and the owner has been requested to lodge undertakings signed by the tenants to purchase at the prices fixed by the Commissioners. As regards the premises in the town of Gort, which are subject to rents payable to Lord Gough, they are, in many cases, 2634 held under Fee Farm Grants and long leases, and in a number of cases sublet to monthly, weekly, and other tenants, and do not, in the opinion of the Commissioners, afford security for advances under the Land Purchase Acts.
§ Mr. DUFFYSeeing that in the first instance all the tenants upon this estate consented to buy from the landlord on the distinct understanding that the town section of the property would be included in the general sale, and seeing that the House is about to adjourn and that I shall have no other opportunity of referring no the matter for some time, will not the right hon Gentleman interpose with the Estates Commissioners and get them to make an offer to try to include the town section of the property?
§ Mr. BIRRELLYes, Sir; I am anxious that the town of Gort should, if possible, be enabled to purchase in that way, but the Commissioners are of opinion that Gort does not afford sufficient security for the advance. The matter is still receiving consideration.