§ 62. Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a memorial, signed by the principal residents of Dingle, was sent to the Congested Districts Board, requesting that Mr. M'Carthy, of Dingle, be reinstated in the lands of Milltown, of which he was some years ago dispossessed; and whether, seeing that these lands have been left unoccupied ever since Mr. M'Carthy left them, and were so unoccupied when the Board purchased the Ventry estate seven years ago, the Board will reinstate the evicted tenant?
Mr. SAMUELThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Congested Districts Board are in communication with the Estates Commissioners with reference to McCarthy's application to be reinstated in a holding on the Ventry estate from which he was evicted, and a decision will be arrived at as soon as practicable. The holding in question was tenanted by a man named McDonnell when the Board purchased the estate, and at a recent date the Board purchased McDonnell's tenancy interest, and are now in possession of the land.
§ 71. Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that it is now over five years since negotiations for the sale of the Mahony congested estate at Mount Collins, county Limerick, took place, and at that time the Estates Commissioners agreed to buy a farm from Mr. William D. Curtain, of Caherlevoy, Mount Collins, for the purpose of relieving this congestion, and that they have not yet paid him the price of same; and whether, as there is dissatisfaction amongst the subtenants and small holders in the district at the fact that this farm is not yet apportioned amongst them, he will take steps to see that the sale is completed without further delay and that the vendor be paid the purchase price of it?
Mr. SAMUELI am informed that the Estates Commissioners acquired this estate in 1908, and proposed to rearrange the holdings thereon, but as some of the tenants refused to consent, the rearrangement could not proceed. The Commissioners then approached William Curtain, who holds adjoining lands, and informed him of the price they were prepared to offer for some 50 acres provided formal proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts were instituted by him and the statutory requirements as to title complied with. Under the Act of 1909 the purchase money would be payable in Guaranteed 3 per Cent. Stock, and as the stock in existing financial conditions would not realise the money which Curtain required, the acquisition of the land has had to be postponed for the present.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYIs it not a fact that the town tenants in this village promised the inspector of the Estates Commissioners to make up the balance of the deficiency in the stock long ago, and yet 1694 they have not been told how much the deficiency was, and the sale has consequently been delayed?
§ 74. Mr. P. WHITEasked whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired untenanted land on the Nicholson estate, Balrath, county Meath; if so, what quantity; and when they propose to distribute it?
Mr. SAMUELThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Estates Commissioners have intimated to the owner the prices which they would be prepared to offer for some 370 acres of untenanted lands in his occupation, and the negotiations are still pending.