§ 90. Mr. FFRENCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, seeing that some of the farms on the Ely estate, county Wexford, will be of little use to the occupiers without suitable dwelling-houses, will the Estates Commissioners have the dwelling-houses of these tenants inspected with a view to give grants or loans for their improvement or the erection of new ones?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)As I have already informed the hon. Member, the holdings on this estate were purchased direct from the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and have been vested in the purchasing tenants. The Estates Commissioners are not prepared to sanction any further advance in respect of these holdings. It is open to the purchasers if they require loans for building purposes to make application for such loans to the Commissioners of Public Works under the Land Improvement (Ireland) Acts.
§ Mr. FFRENCHDoes not the Land Act of 1909 provide for loans for purchasing-dwelling-houses, and why are these poor tenants to be deprived of the benefit?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere is no obligation to make a loan.
§ 91. Mr. FFRENCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, seeing that the Boyd estate, Burchells and others, county Wexford, Record E. C. 9545, has been under the consideration of the Estates Commissioners for a considerable time, he can say when they propose to issue an offer for the purchase of this estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners hope to be in a position to make an offer for the purchase of this estate within the next few months.