§ Mr. FFRENCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what steps, if any, have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to acquire 2,000 acres of land in Wexford, for the purpose of distribution amongst the evicted tenants; and if any progress has been made in that direction?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have acquired and distributed amongst 128 evicted tenants some 4,500 acres in county Wexford. They cannot say to what lands the hon. Member refers when he speaks of their acquiring 2,000 acres.
§ Mr. JOHNasked what is the extent of the agricultural land represented, respectively, by the sum of £69,675,910 expended on land purchase in Ireland up to 31st March last, and the further £47,616,544 for which application had then been made?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the total price of lands sold to the 31st March last under the Land Purchase Acts was £67,839,088, and the area is 6,497,162 acres. On the 31st March lands of an estimated value of over forty-five millions were pending for sale under those Acts, and the area is approximately 4,075,400 acres.