§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary the reasons why the Irish Land Commissioners have refused to consent to the sub-division of the holding of Julia O'Herlihy, R.O., No. 79/8379, county Cork; whether it has been shown that this sub-division is desirable to protect the interests of certain orphans and others; and, seeing that £180 has been deposited for over two years as the purchase price of the holding, will he recommend to the Commissioners the advisability of reconsidering their decision in this matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe case in question is one which has come before the Land Commissioners for consideration in connection with the provisions of the Land Purchase Acts preventing the sub-division of purchased holdings. The Commissioners fully considered the entire circumstances of the case, but were unable to give their consent to the application for liberty to sub-divide the holding. The matter has been reconsidered on more than one occasion, but the Commissioners have seen no grounds for varying their ruling in the case.