§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the quantity of untenanted land in county Meath, the number of occupiers of uneconomic holdings under an annual value of £10, and the number of occupants of labourers' cottages qualified by duration of occupancy to receive parcels of land; and whether he will state the number of inhabited houses in the county in the year 1840 and the number at the present time.
§ Mr. BIRRELLas regards the untenanted land in county Meath, I would refer the hon. Member to the Return presented to Parliament in 1906 (No. 250 of that year), and as regards the number of holdings not exceeding £10 valuation, to the second appendix to the Seventh Report of the Royal Commission on Congestion. There are over 1,400 labourers' cottages in Meath which are at least five years built. The number of inhabited houses in the county in 1841 was 30,788, and in 1901 it was 14,954.
§ Mr. P. WHITEasked whether the lands of Newrath Kells, County Meath, have within the past few days been a second time offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; whether the Commissioners offered a price for the lands some time back; and if they are still prepared to adhere to their offer and acquire the land for distribution among the people of the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have made a preliminary inspection of these lands and have intimated to the owners the sum they would be prepared to advance if proceedings for sale were instituted before them. The owners have not up to the present instituted such proceedings, but the Commissioners will communicate with the owners further on the subject.