§ 35. Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the cause of the delay on the part of the Estates Commissioners in completing the sale of the farm of William D. Curtin, of Caherlevoy, Mount-Collins, county Lime- 418 rick, which was purchased by them some years ago for the purpose of relieving congestion on the Mahony estate in that district; and whether he will take steps to see that the sale is completed without further delay, so that the land may be of use to the uneconomic holders there for the coming year?
§ Mr. DUKEThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension in stating that the Estates Commissioners acquired these lands from Curtin some years ago. Negotiations which commenced some years ago for the purchase of the lands in question were delayed at first owing to difficulties experienced in arranging for a means of access thereto, and when these were overcome formal proceedings for sale were instituted and the statutory requirements as to title and other matters were being complied with when war intervened, with the result mentioned in the reply which was given to the hon. Member's question of the 26th July. As stated in reply to his question of the 26th October the Commissioners hope soon to be in a position to complete the purchase of the lands referred to, and if possible to place the purchasers in possession in time for the coming spring work.