Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary how many evicted tenants have had holdings provided for them up to date in county Clare, and how many cases it is estimated remain to be dealt with; and whether he will take into consideration the urgency of this matter and its bearing upon the contentment and good order of the county?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn the county Clare 158 evicted tenants have been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with other holdings, and the names of nine evicted tenants in that county have been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land as acquired by the Estates Commissioners. Their cases will be dealt with as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. FFRENCHasked whether the Estates Commissioners have inquired into the case of Thomas Kehoe, who was evicted from the Portsmouth estate; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received an application from Thomas Kehoe for reinstatement in a holding from which he states his father was evicted fifty-nine years ago, and which is at present in the occupation of a tenant who has purchased it under the Land Purchase Acts. As the eviction took place more than twenty-five years before the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, Kehoe does not come within the class of evicted tenants for whom the Estates Commissioners have power to provide holdings.