§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board had purchased the farm of Kilskeagh, containing 450 acres of land, near Turloughmore; whether he was aware that a resolution had been received by the Congested Districts Board from the United Estates Committee of North, South, and East Galway, asking that this grass farm would be handed over to the tenants of the locality who were in need of land, and that they were prepared to pay a fair rent for the same; whether he was aware that the names of a number of tenants had also been attached to the memorial who were prepared to take over the farm; whether it was the intention of the Board to comply with the request of the resolution; and whether it was the intention of the Congested Districts Board to permit a grazier named Mr. Mark Mylotte, of Ballinrobe, to remain in possession for another year of 250 acres of the best land of the farm, while the Congested Districts Board have advertised for grazing stock for the 200 acres of mountain land on this farm?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have received the resolution referred to. The Board have only purchased a portion of the lands of Kilskeagh, comprising 200 acres of poor mountain land. The 250 acres of grazing held by Mr. Mark Mylotte in the same townland have not been offered to the Board, but they are in communication with the owner with a view to purchase.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the tenants on the estate of Mr. F. G. Williams at Cappanagroun, near Waterville, applied to the Congested Districts Board last year requesting them to negotiate for the purchase of the estate; and can he state what action, if any, has been taken by the Board, and with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board received an application from the tenants on this estate, and informed the owner of the procedure to be adopted if he desired to negotiate through the Board for the sale of his estate, but so far the estate has not been offered to the Board.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked whether the Congested Districts Board has requested the owner to sell the unsold portion of the Warden estate, near Sneem; whether the Estates Commissioners gave any undertaking that they would not negotiate for the unsold portion of the estate on condition that the owner agreed to sell the portion which was subsequently sold; and what steps will now be taken to secure that the tenants who have been denied the right of purchase shall be allowed to acquire their holdings?
§ Mr. B1RRELLThe Congested Districts Board communicated with the owner, but he refused to sell the portion of his estate near Sneem. The Estates Commissioners gave no such undertaking as that referred to. The lands on this estate purchased by the Commissioners were originally the subject of direct sale proceedings under the Irish Land Act, 1903, but at, the request of the Commissioners, the owner agreed to change the proceedings into a sale to them, so that the lands might be dealt with as a congested estate under Section 6 of the Act. The lands so acquired did not include certain lands which adjoin the owner's residence, and which were not included in the original proceedings.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary if he would state the order of 2108W priority in which the estate of the late A. E. Edgeworth, Esq., D.L., of Edgeworthstown, county Longford, now stands; whether any progress is likely to be made in vesting the same this year; and, if not, when it was likely that this estate would be dealt with?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere are three estates of Mr. A. E. Edgeworth pending for sale before the Estates Commissioners, and they are not aware to which estate the hon. Member refers. None of the estates will be dealt with this year, but may be reached next year.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary whether, in case agreements are now entered into by the town tenants of Edgeworthstown to purchase their town holdings along with the agricultural holdings previously purchased (providing the necessary additional cash lodgment, if required in such cases), these latter agreements would be dealt with at the same time as the agricultural part of the estate, when the same comes up; and, if not, could he hold out any hope of a speedy sale of the latter, so as to facilitate a subsequent sale of the town property under the Act of 1909?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the agricultural portion of this estate, for which purchase agreements have already been lodged, will be dealt with in order of priority. If agreements for the sale of the town holdings are lodged they will be dealt with at the same time.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary if ho would state, by counties, the area of land distributed in Ireland from the beginning of their operations to the present time by the Congested Districts Board and by the Estates Commissioners respectively; the area purchased but not yet distributed by the Board; the area for the purchase of which each body is now in negotiation; and the estimated area of non-residential land in each county not yet touched by the Board or the Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe information required by the hon. Member could only he obtained after considerable labour and by withdrawing the staff of the Congested Districts Board and Estates Commissioners from more important duties. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the last published Reports of those Departments, which give all the information available as to their operations.