§ 49. Mr. BOLANDasked whether the Chief Secretary will have further inquiry made as to the possibility of providing Jeremiah D. Shea, Rossmore, Tahilla, with a holding on some untenanted land in compliance with the memorial forwarded to the Congested Districts Board?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Congested Districts Board have had inquiries made in regard to the application of Mr. Jeremiah D. Shea, and they cannot provide him with a holding.
§ 50. Mr. BOLANDasked whether the holding of Michael Sullivan, Cannig, Mastergeehy, on the D. C. O'Connell estate, was valued by the inspector of the Estates Commissioners at £120; and whether, in view of the fact that this estate has been bought by the Congested Districts Board and that Sullivan did not sign any purchase agreement, the holding will now be taken over at the price fixed by the former inspector and that this tenant will be treated on the same fair terms already granted to the other tenant who had not purchased?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe price placed upon the holding of Michael Sullivan on this estate by the inspector of the Estates Commissioners was £140, and not £120, as stated in the question. The Congested Districts Board will be prepared to sell the holding to the tenant in its unaltered condition at this price.
§ 51. Mr. BOLANDasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that two years expired on 10th May since the landlord of the Jermyn estate, near Caherdaniel, accepted the purchase price named by the Congested Districts Board; and whether, in view of the fact that no improvement works have been carried out since last January, he will state when the sale to the tenants will be definitely completed?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe estate referred to was vested in the Congested Districts Board in November last. The necessary drainage works have been completed on the estate, but at present some of the tenants are improving their dwelling houses and erecting new out-offices, with assistance from the Board. The estate is being resurveyed with a view to resale to the tenants, but it cannot be definitely stated when the resale will be completed.
§ 52. Mr. BOLANDasked what was the average number of years' purchase valued for the townland of Laharan South, on the Colomb estate, near Cahirciveen, by the inspector of the Estates Commissioners; how many years' purchase was demanded by the landlord; and whether, in view of a possible arrangement and the approaching inspection of this estate by the Congested Districts Board, the tenants will be saved any further expenses by legal process for the recovery of rent?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe owner instituted proceedings before the Estates Commissioners for the sale of this property direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The terms of sale were a matter of arrangement between the owner and the tenants, and the Commissioners were not parties thereto. The Commissioners refused to declare the lands fit to be regarded as an estate for the purposes of sale, and the owner is now in negotiation with the Congested Districts Board with a view to the purchase of the property. The Board have had the estate inspected, and hope to consider the question of making an offer for its purchase at their next meeting. They cannot interfere in any legal proceedings instituted by the owner for the recovery of rent or interest due by the tenants.