§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there is any untenanted land on the estate of Catherine Barlow, situate at Drumrone, county Meath; and, if so, whether the Estates Commissioners will approach the owner with a view to acquiring it for the enlargement of holdings on the same estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners cannot identify this estate as 1833W pending before them for sale under the Land Purchase Act.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to acquire the untenanted land on the Massy estate, at Castleconnell, county Limerick; and if the land has been inspected with a view to purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLProceedings for the sale of this estate direct to the tenants are pending before the Estates Commissioners. The owner has included 130 acres of untenanted land, which he proposes to sell to the Commissioners, and it will be inspected and dealt with in order of priority.
§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary when the inspection of the Gould-Verschoyle estate, Athea, county Limerick, took place; can he state the price offered to the owner by the Estates Commissioners, and is he willing to accept it; what stands at present in the way of the acquisition of the untenanted land on this estate for distribution amongst evicted tenants, small-holders, and labourers; and have any arrangements been entered into by the tenants on the estate to purchase their holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received in February, 1910, their inspector's report on this estate which is the subject of direct sale proceedings under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and purchase agreements have been lodged for the sale of the tenanted lands. It is not expected that payment can be made in respect of this estate during the present financial year. No offer has yet been made by the Commissioners for the purchase of the untenanted land, which will be dealt with when the estate is reached in its turn.