§ 5. Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board will reopen negotiations for the purchase of the unsold portion of the Warden estate, Sneem, county Kerry, with a view to securing a sale through voluntary co-operation on the part of the landlord, the tenants, and the Board?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The Congested Districts Board have recently been in communication with Colonel Warden in reference to the unsold portion of his estate near Sneem, county Kerry, and he has informed them that as at present advised he is not prepared to enter into negotiations for the sale of the property.
§ 10. Mr. PATRICK MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many of the evicted tenants who were allotted holdings on the Thompson estate, Kilcoke, Queen's County, received free grants; and if he can state whether Elizabeth McGrath will receive a free grant?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have sanctioned grants for the purchase of live stock in the case of fifteen evicted tenants or the representatives of evicted tenants who have been provided by the Commissioners with holdings on the estate referred to. The reply to the latter part of the question is in the negative.
§ 14. Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have ruled that the non-residential grass farms on the congested estate of Lady Chapman, of Killua Castle, Westmeath, though not subject to the rent-fixing Acts, may be purchased by the graziers under the Purchase Acts instead of being distributed for relief of the congestion; and, if so, will he give the text of their ruling, with the Acts and Sections on which it is based; and will he state the aggregate area of non-residential land on the estate 2081 adjudged to the graziers and to the relief of congestion, respectively?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is not a congested estate within the meaning of Section 6 (5) of the Irish Land Act, 1903, as amended by the Irish Land Act, 1909. The question of the nature of the tenancies in the farms referred to was heard and argued in Court before the Estates Commissioners, who, after considering the evidence as to the nature of the lettings, decided that the tenancies are yearly tenancies, but restricted to pasturage. The provisions of the Land Purchase Acts enable yearly tenants occupying lands under contracts of tenancy to purchase their holdings; the hon. Member will find the expression "tenant" defined in Section 57 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act of 1881, and Section 26 of the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1885. The vendor is including in the sale some 600 acres in her occupation as untenanted land for distribution by the Commissioners, but it is impossible at present to say the aggregate of pasture land that will be awarded to the tenants in question.
§ 15. Mr. SHEEHYasked the Chief Secretary whether it is contemplated by the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board to acquire the Dillon estate at Cardiffstown, county Meath, for the purpose of migration; whether he is aware that there are a number of uneconomic holders and landless qualified labourers who would be entitled to portions of those lands; and, if the Estates Commissioners acquire the lands, whether they will give first consideration to those entitled to portions of the property in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have acquired under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, certain untenanted lands in the townlands of Rivers-town and Oldtown on the estate referred to. In the allotment of the untenanted land the Commissioners will have regard to the circumstances and suitability of the applicants for allotments, and to the terms of Section 17 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, which specifies the class of persons to whom advances can be made for the purchase of allotments under the Land Purchase Acts.