§ Mr. THOMAS F. SMYTHasked the Chief Secretary if the Congested Districts Board have received memorials from tenants on the Duckworth, Harlech, M'Terney, La Touche, Lawder, M'Keon, Weston, Rowley, Leitrim, and West estates all situate in the county of Leitrim; and whether, as some of those estates are highly rented, and in some cases the tenants are future tenants and a great deal of the land of very bad quality, the Board will put the compulsory powers of the Land Act of 1909 into operation with a view to selling those estates to the tenants, thus placing them in an equal position with those tenants on neighbouring estates who have purchased their holdings under the Land Act of 1903 and previous Acts?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have received memorials from the tenants on the estates referred to. Negotiations for purchase are proceeding with respect to the Duckworth, P. La Touche and Lawder Estates, but have not been entered into as regards the Harlech, M'Terney, M'Keon, and West Estates. The Board do not possess sufficient particulars as regards the Weston, Rowley and Leitrim Estates to enable them to enter into communication with the landlords. The Board cannot, as regards all these estates, offer any opinion as to the rents, the nature of the tenancies, or the quality of the land, but the Board will do all in their power to hasten land purchase in the congested districts, if necessary, by the use of their compulsory powers.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary what steps, if any, have been taken recently by the Congested Districts Board to complete the negotiations for the purchase of the Jermyn Estate at Castle Cove, county Kerry; whether he is aware that there are not many tenants on the estate; and whether, in view of the fact that both the neighbouring estates have 1867W been sold to the occupying tenants, and that extensive improvements have been carried out by the Congested Districts Board on the neighbouring Burns-Hartopp estate, and that for many years the Jermyn tenants have done their utmost to complete the purchase negotiations, the Board will now use their best endeavours to secure that the estate is sold?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that negotiations for the purchase of the Jermyn Estate are proceeding, the landlord having offered to sell. The estate has been valued, and no avoidable delay will occur in taking steps for the completion of the purchase.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked why the sale of the Burke estate, at Gurtavalla, East Doon, county Limerick, is not being completed; and, having regard to the fact that the purchase agreements have been signed for six years, will steps be taken to have vesting orders issued as soon as possible, and thus prevent any further hardship being inflicted on the tenants, who are paying at the rate of 3¾ per cent. interest?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate referred to will be dealt with in order of priority. The Estates Commissioners hope that it will be reached in its turn during the financial year beginning 1st April next.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether on 4th February, 1910, the tenants of Mrs. Agnes M'Donnell, of the Valley, Achill, county Mayo, sent a request to the Congested Districts Board to have the estate purchased under the Land Purchase Act, 1909; and what steps, if any, the Board have since taken to acquire the estate for the tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board received a request from the tenants to purchase Mrs. M'Donnell's estate. The Board wrote to her asking if she would sell her estate, but she replied refusing to negotiate with the Board. The Board have not taken any further steps to acquire the estate.
§ Mr. DORISasked in how many cases agreements for the purchase of estates in Mayo county have been entered into by the Congested Districts Board under the Land Purchase Act, 1909; in how many cases have landlords refused to sell voluntarily; and when the Board intend to enforce the compulsory clauses of the Act in the cases of such refusal?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have made offers for ten estates in county Mayo under the Act of 1909, but only three purchase agreements have been completed. A number of owners of Mayo estates refused to sell voluntarily, while fifty-four owners have offered to sell, and their estates are now being inspected or are awaiting inspection. Up to the present time the Board have not thought it necessary to apply their compulsory powers to the purchase of any estate in county Mayo.
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary whether he would state if the Congested Districts Board had received a memorial from the tenants on the Marsham and West estate, Ballinaglera, county Leitrim, who are still compelled to pay the old rack rent; and whether, having regard to the congestion in that district, the Board purposed taking any action to purchase the estate and relieve congestion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have received a memorial from the tenants in respect of each of the estates referred to. The agent of the Marsham estate has lodged the necessary rentals to enable a valuation to be made, and the lands will be inspected at an early date. The owner of the West estate is willing to sell, but declines to offer the estate until the tenants have paid their rents.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners nave acquired and paid for the estate of Colonel FitzHenry Smyth, situate at Newtown, county Meath; whether any of their inspectors have been negotiating with a farmer from the western part of Ireland to come and occupy it; will he state what negotiations have taken place; and whether the Estates Commissioners received a memorial from the inhabitants of the district asking that it should be divided between them?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe purchase money of this estate has not been paid, and the lands have not been vested in the Estates Commissioners; but the estate is the subject of proceedings for sale to them under the. Irish Land Act, 1903, and they have entered into a formal agreement for purchase. There is a large mansion house, with outbuildings, on the lands; and one of the Commissioners' inspectors suggested it might be sold to a large farmer on another 1869W estate, whose holding is urgently required for the relief of adjoining small holders. The memorial referred to has been received and will be duly considered before any scheme of allotment is approved by the Commissioners. The lands are at present set under a temporary letting for grazing up to 1st November next.