HC Deb 07 August 1912 vol 41 cc3185-7W
Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

asked why the Estates Commissioners have not in any practical way endeavoured to restore the evicted tenants in county Cavan, under the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907; will he say how many evicted tenants were actually restored under this Act in county Cavan and in the other counties in Ireland; and whether anything may be hoped for by these people before the Act expires?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Estates Commissioners inform me that 3,156 evicted tenants or their representatives have been reinstated or provided with other holdings as purchasers under the Land Purchase Acts, including 462 on lands acquired compulsorily under the Evicted Tenants Acts; the figures for County Cavan being 100 and 32 respectively. The number of evicted tenants whose applications have been provisionally approved, and who have not been provided with holdings is 334, and their cases will be considered by the Commissioners in the allotment of over 50,000 acres of untenanted land which is at present the subject of proceedings for sale to the Commissioners, including over 2,000 acres under the Evicted Tenants Act.

Mr. FLAVIN

asked whether the application of John Ahern, an evicted tenant on the Supple estate at Clounmackon, Listowel, has been considered by the Estates Commissioners with a view to a Grant; and, if so, with what result?

Mr. BIRRELL

This estate was the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants. An agreement signed by John Ahern for the purchase of his holding on the estate, which he was stated to hold as a judicial tenant, was lodged with the Estates Commissioners who sanctioned the advance of the purchase money, and Ahern's holding has been vested in him. The Commissioners could not find that they received any application from Ahern as an evicted tenant within the period prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act and did not see their way to make him any free Grant.

Mr. FLAVIN

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Michael J. Ahern, of Knocknaglough, Lyrecrompane, North Kerry, an evicted tenant, on the John C D. Hurley estate; whether he is aware that Ahern has been reinstated and has signed a purchase agreement, but has no visible means nor any stock on the land; and whether he will make representations to the Estates Commissioners to give a Grant to Ahern as an evicted tenant?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Ahern for assistance to work the holding on the-Hurley estate in which he has been reinstated by the owner, and, after inquiry and consideration, decided to take no action in the matter.

Mr. FLAVIN

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Nicholas Mulvihill, of Asdee, North Kerry, an evicted tenant on the William Creagh Hickie estate, at Kilelton, Ballylongford, for reinstatement in his holding; and whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any action in the matter, seeing that Nicholas Mulvihill is an evicted tenant for the past sixteen years?

Mr. BIRRELL

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for Limerick West on 27th July, 1911, to which I have nothing to add.