33. Mr. COSGRAVEasked the Home Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board purchased a farm containing about 400 acres at Brackloon and Palathluggar, county Galway, Smith estate; whether he is aware that this farm was purchased for the purpose of relieving congestion in the district; if he will state what right the Board has to continue working this farm for their own benefit instead of dividing it up amongst the uneconomic holders of land in the district; and whether, having regard to the action of the Congested Districts Board, he will say what steps he proposes to take in the county Galway?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)The Congested Districts Board have purchased about 400 acres of untenanted land in the townlands of Brackloon and Pollat-luga on the J. J. Smith estate, county Galway, which will be utilised for the purpose of relieving congestion. The Board are not legal owners of the estate, and 1238 until they become legal owners they cannot make any arrangements for the disposal of the land. In the meantime, the Board have placed grazing stock on the lands.
§ Sir E. CARSONWill any of this land purchased at the public expense be reserved for returned wounded soldiers?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI could not answer this question without consultation with the Congested Districts Board.
§ Sir E. CARSONThey have not bought any there.
34. Mr. COSGRAVEasked the Home Secretary what steps the Congested Districts Board has taken to compulsorily acquire six farms on the Clanricarde estate at present occupied by planters, namely, Messrs. A. G. Elliott, Hugh Nesbett, James Clarke, representatives of G. B. Drury, Edward Horseman, and Mrs. John Horseman; if all the planters on this estate have voluntarily surrendered their holdings with the exception of the abovementioned; and if he will, in the interest of the peace of the district, direct the Congested Districts Board to acquire these farms either compulsorily or voluntarily?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Congested Districts Board have made an offer in Court for the purchase of the farm of the representatives of G. B. Drury, and notice to quit, which will expire on the 1st May next, has been served in the case of Hugh Nesbitt. Otherwise, there is nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member's question of the 21st March last.
38. Mr. COSGRAVEasked the Home Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board compensated an occupier named Cooke for a farm at Trunerleigh, county Galway, and re-let him the grazing on the same farm afterwards on the eleven months' system, while the local congested inhabitants were willing and prepared to take the same grazing temporarily or otherwise; and whether, with a view to the peace of the district, he has sanctioned this arrangement or is he prepared to recommend that this grazing be given to the people for whose eventual benefit the purchase of the farm was concluded with Cooke?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Congested Districts Board have agreed to the purchase of Mr. Richard A. Cooke's tenancy interest in the farm of Treananearla on the Clanricarde estate, subject to title which has not yet been finally settled. Under the arrangements for purchase Mr. Cooke has been let the grazing of the lands up to 1st November next, and this arrangement cannot now be altered.