Dr. ESMONDEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the sale of the Toler estate, at Bautiss, North Tipperary, will be completed; and if he is aware that the tenants signed the agreement on 15th September, 1906, and that the matter is one of urgency?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and purchase agreements were lodged in October, 1906. The case is on1688W the principal register of direct sales (all cash) and will be dealt with in order of priority.
§ Mr. O'MALLEYasked the Chief Secretary whether an offer has yet been made by the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of the Clements estate, Maam, Connemara; and, if so, will he state whether the offer has been declined or accepted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have recently made an offer for the purchase of this property which has not yet been accepted or refused.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the Piers estate, at Clonsilla, county Meath; if so, will he say when it is likely to be distributed; and whether they have received memorials setting forth the claims of local applicants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The formal proposal of the Estates Commissioners to purchase these lands will issue when their requirements as to title and other matters have been satisfied. The reply to the last paragraph is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary (1) whether he is aware that the Wade estate at Clonabraney, county Meath, was in Judge Ross's Court until an application was made by the tenants that it should be sold to them, and that the untenanted land was offered for sale at the same time; whether the Estates Commissioners will apply to the present owner to have the original offer carried out; (2) whether Craven II. C. Wade, who sold the Clonabraney estate, county Meath, direct to the tenants and who resided at Rockfield, county Wicklow, is since deceased; whether he repurchased the demesne land at Rockfield; if so, whether his successor in title is now entitled to repurchase the mansion and demesne land at Clonabraney; whether he is aware that his successor resides outside of Ireland; and if, having regard to the spirit of the Act of 1903, he will provide by legislation or otherwise that facilities should not be given to absentee landlords to purchase demesne land for the purpose of resale?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings before the Estates 1689W Commissioners for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and at the time of the institution of such proceedings there were no sale proceedings pending in the Court of the Land Judge, and the Commissioners have no information as regards any proceedings prior to that date. In his application the owner has requested the Commissioners to make him an advance to repurchase his demesne as provided by the Act of 1903. The Commissioners understand that an advance was made to him by the Land Commission under the Acts prior to that of 1903 to enable him to purchase certain lands in Wicklow of which he was the tenant. They are not aware that he has since died, and they have no information as to who may now be entitled to the property. The estate will not be reached in order of priority for some years, but when it is being dealt with the question of the sale of the demesne lands will be fully considered.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners gave a man named Gunning a farm at Drumrone, near Nobber, county Meath; if he is aware that he never entered into actual occupation of the house or lands, that a stranger now occupies the residence, and that the lands are practically derelict; whether he is aware that the giving of this farm to a stranger, who apparently has no intention of residing there, while many local applicants were in need of the land, has caused social unrest in the district; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners allotted Patrick Gunning a holding on the Barlow estate, county Meath, in exchange for a farm surrendered by him in county Galway to enable the Commissioners to relieve the congestion in that district. With the approval of the Commissioners, he has made a temporary letting of portion of the holding until he can arrange to bring his family to it and reside there himself. The holding has been vested in Gunning, and the matter is closed so far as the Commissioners are concerned.
§ Mr. GILHOOLYasked the Chief Secretary whether he can state, approximately, when the tenants on the Earl of Kenmare's Bantry estate who have purchased may expect to have their holdings vested in them?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Estates Commissioners hope that it will be dealt with at an early date.
§ Mr. O'MALLEYasked the Chief Secre-Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board has yet made an offer for the purchase of the Millar estate, in Carraroe, Connemara; and whether, in view of the poverty of the 200 tenants on this estate, he will urge upon the Congested Districts Board the desirability of acquiring the property without unnecessary delay and reselling it to the tenants, who are now compelled to pay rents out of all proportion to the value of the holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The property has been inspected, and an offer for purchase will be issued by the Congested Districts Board as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. DANIEL BOYLEasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the townland of Keenaghbeg, near Crossmolina, county Mayo, on the Palmer estate, recently acquired by the Congested Districts Board, was valued by the Board's representative at fourteen years' purchase; and will the Congested Districts Board arrange, pending the transfer of title to the tenants, that the payments demanded as rent from tenants in this townland are based on the valuation referred to and proportionate reductions made accordingly?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe townland mentioned was not acquired by the Congested Districts Board at fourteen years' purchase. The Board will collect rents from the tenants in occupation of agricultural holdings on the terms set out in the circular letter, a copy of which has already been furnished to the hon. Member. The price at which holdings needing alteration will be sold cannot be given before the alteration, enlargements, or improvements are carried out.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary whether the Owens and Brown estate, near Ballyglass, county Mayo, has yet been acquired by the Congested Districts Board, and, if so, upon what terms; are the grass lands of the estate included in 1691W the purchase so that congestion may be relieved; do the Board intend to drain the marshy portions of the land; and what provision is contemplated as to the necessary turbary for the tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have not yet acquired this property.
§ Sir THOMAS ESMONDEasked the Chief Secretary if he will use his influence with the Estates Commissioners to enable Peter Dwyer to purchase his holding on the Hogan estate, in county Wexford, which estate is now being sold under the Land Purchase Act?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and an agreement for the purchase of his holding was signed by Peter Dwyer, senior, since deceased. His son Peter Dwyer is now in occupation of the holding which will be vested in him on compliance with the requirements of the Estates Commissioners as to title.