§ Mr. DUFFYasked whether Major Wilson Lynch offered his estate at Duras, Kinvarra, comprising the townlands of Funshinmore, Gortskeagh, New Town, Caffabeg, in county Galway, and Augnish, county Clare, to the Congested Districts Board; and with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe owner has expressed his willingness to negotiate for the sale of his estate through the Congested Districts Board, but the maps and other documents to enable an inspection to be made have not yet been lodged. I understand that some delay has been caused in this case owing to the serious illness of the owner.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked whether any correspondence has passed between the trustees of the Sharp Estate, Kinvarra, county Galway, and the Congested Districts Board in respect to the sale of the Sharpe property; and, seeing that a promise was made so long ago as 0th November, 1910, by Mr. Kirwan, agent to the trustee, to offer the entire estate to the Congested Districts Board, can he state if the estate has been acquired, and the probable date of dealing with it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate referred to, comprising the lands of Kinvara and Inishroo, has been offered to the Congested Districts Board, and will be inspected as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. O'MALLEYasked what estates in the Connemara division of county Galway 1794W have been purchased since the passing of the 1909 Land Bill; if he will give the names of those estates in the said division which the Congested Districts Board are negotiating to purchase; and whether the purchase is likely to be completed this year?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe statistics of the Estates Commissioners are not kept by Parliamentary Divisions. The Congested Districts Board have purchased the P. J. Davy Estate in the Connemara Division of Galway since the passing of the Act of 1909 and are in negotiation for the purchase of the following estates in that area, namely, Henry B. Clements, Mary Duane, B. J. Duane, John J. Darcy, Marcus Lynch, George S. Mansfield, Scottish Insurance Co., Ltd. (formerly Blake Foster), N. 0. Scott, Colonel Hackett, R. Berridge, Representatives H. E. V. Blake, J. W. Lee, P. St. Leger Higgins, A. E. M. Coleman, Rev. Geoff E. Browne, Standard Life Assurance Company, Geo. Ed. O'Flaherty, and Mrs. Grace Lambert.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked what is the present condition of the negotiations with regard to the sale of the townlands of Eribul, Moyralla, and Carrowniskey, all situated on the estate of Lord Leconfield, West Clare; and whether, in view of the fact that the tenants memorialised the Congested Districts Board more than a year ago regarding the purchase of their holdings, this matter will be expedited?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo portion of Lord Leconfield's estate, county Clare, has been offered to the Congested Districts Board. The Board have been in communication with the agent, who has informed them that nearly all of Lord Leconfield's estates have already been sold by direct sales to the tenants under the Act of 1903, and that he desires to carry out any further sales in the same way under the Act of 1909 and not through the Board. It appears that only a portion of the estate remaining to be sold is situated in a congested districts county. The memorial referred to was received.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether lie is aware that some tenants on the estate of Lord Cork, in Ballyferritter, Dingle, county Kerry, have not been allowed to sign a purchase agreement because they went into court to have a fair rent fixed; and whether steps will be taken at once to intimate the landlord that these tenants should be allowed to sign as soon as possible?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate of Lord Cork, county Kerry, is being sold direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Estates Commissioners have no information as to the statement in the question, but when the estate is being dealt with in order of priority they will inquire into the cases of any tenants who have not signed purchase agreements.
§ Mr. O'SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary if he will explain the Estates Commissioners' reasons for their decision not to declare Mrs. Anne Brosman to be a direct tenant on the estate of Mrs. K. E. Magell, at Disreen, county Kerry, for the purpose of sale under the Irish Land Acts, of the farm of land occupied by her as subtenant to Mrs. Patrick Keane; and whether the Commissioners will reconsider their decision?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe question as to whether on the sale of an estate a subtenant should he declared a direct tenant for the purposes of sale is entirely a matter within the discretion of the Estates Commissioners, and in the particular case referred to in the question the Commissioners decided to vest the entire holding in the tenant, in accordance with the terms of his purchase agreement under the Irish Land Act, 1903.
§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Chief Secretary if he would furnish a list, by counties, showing the names of the auctioneers whom the Land Commission have been in the habit of employing; when they were first employed; and would he state by whom these persons were selected or appointed, and their remuneration, and by whom it is paid?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere is no regularly established list of auctioneers employed by the Irish Land Commissioners. They select from time to time such auctioneers as may, from their standing and residence, be considered most suitable for conducting sales of defaulters' holdings under the Land Acts. I do not see that any useful purpose would be served by furnishing a list of such auctioneers. All expenses, including auctioneers' fees, connected with the sale of a holding are defrayed out of the proceeds of the sale.
§ Mr. FREWENasked whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the untenanted lands on the Purcell estate, Graigue, Shanballymore; and, if so, what disposal of these lands do they intend?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLProceedings for the sale of the estate of Raymond John Purcell, county Cork, East Riding, direct from the landlord to the tenants are at present pending before the Estates Commissioners. It would appear that the owner is in possession of certain lands which he has not included in the estate which is the subject of proceedings for sale. When the estate is reached in order of priority this matter will be duly considered by the Commissioners.