§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the description by the Estates Commissioners of the hovels covered with green grass and the uneconomic holdings on the Colomb estate, near Cahirciveen; and whether the Congested Districts Board will now act promptly and complete the purchase of this estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have seen the statement referred to. The maps and documents previously lodged with the Estates Commissioners have now been lodged with the Congested Districts Board, and the question of the purchase of the estate will be considered by them.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the date when the landlord of the M'Carthy estate, Gowlanes, Cahirdaniel, was paid his purchase money; and can he state when an inspector will be sent to make a report as to the general improvements necessary for houses, etc., on the estate?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe purchase money of this estate was advanced on 18th November, 1909. The inspector who is to visit the property with a view to reporting as to improvements to be effected before the lands are vested in the tenants will do so as soon as he has completed work on other estates on which he is at present engaged, and which the Estates Commissioners expect will be completed at an early date.
Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDasked if the Congested Districts Board will purchase the F. Westropp estate, townlands of Dromore and Derryulk, parish of Feakle, county Clare?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs the estate in question was not congested within the meaning of the Act, the Congested Districts Board saw no objection to the estate being sold direct to the tenants through the Estates Commissioners, and they therefore decided not to make an offer for it.
§ Mr. MALCOLMasked what estates since 1906 the Congested Districts Board have purchased, have agreed to purchase, or are in negotiation for purchasing, in connection with which persons have been boycotted or intimidated, on which there are or were persons under police protection, or in connection with which disturbances occurred for which persons have been brought before any Court of Law?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt would be impossible for the Congested Districts Board to say definitely with regard to any particular estate that no person has ever been intimidated in connection with the proceedings for its sale, but when any illegal action or combination in the case of the sale of an estate comes to their knowledge, they at once intervene and intimate that no further steps will be taken pending the cessation of such illegal action. They have also circulated throughout the congested districts a notice that illegal combination against the payment of rent to the landlord pending the valuation of the estate by the Board, or intimidation in any form, will indefinitely delay, instead of hastening, the purchase of the estate.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked whether the Congested Districts Board has taken any and, if so, what steps to complete the purchase of the Fuller estate, near Cahirciveen?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have recently made an offer for the purchase of this estate.