HC Deb 04 May 1914 vol 62 cc45-8W
Mr. O'DOHERTY

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) if an agreement for the sale and purchase of the estate of Mrs. Catherine Harvey, at Desertegney, Buncrana, county Donegal, has been signed; whether any, and, if so, what steps have been taken in order to have the untenanted and untitled land on this estate distributed for the enlargement of uneconomic holdings thereon; and (2) whether a memorial was sent some time ago to the Estates Commissioners and Congested Districts Board, respectively, urging the necessity of having these lands applied towards the enlargement of the smaller holdings on the estate before vesting orders are made to the tenants; and whether he will state when will an assurance be given to the tenants by the responsible Department that this will be done, and also inform them which of the Departments is responsible?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings for the sale of this estate by the owner direct to the tenants have been instituted before them under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and purchase agreements at prices agreed upon between the parties have been lodged. In addition to the tenanted lands, the owner has offered some 70 acres of untenanted land for sale to the Commissioners for distribution, and some 650 acres of turbary, which it is proposed should be vested in trustees for the benefit of the tenants. The lands referred to in the memorial are apparently the demesne lands known as Linsfort Demesne, and are not included in the lands for sale. The estate has recently been inspected, and the report of the inspector will, it is expected, be considered by the Commissioners at an early date. At this stage of the proceedings no statement can be made as regards the other matters referred to by the hon. Member.

Mr. DORIS

asked the Chief Secretary the price at which the Robinson-M'Alpine estate, near Castlebar, county Mayo, was purchased by the Congested Districts Board?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Congested Districts Board inform me that they agreed to purchase the property for £9,652 Guaranteed Three per Cent. Land Stock.

Mr. DORIS

asked the Chief Secretary whether Lord Avonmore has yet offered his estate near Killawalla, county Mayo, for sale through the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, what steps, if any, the Board have taken to acquire the property, and when they hope to complete the purchase?

Mr. BIRRELL

The estate referred to has recently been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, and the question of its purchase will be considered as soon as practicable. At this stage the Board are unable to make any statement as to the completion of the negotiations for purchase.

Mr. DORIS

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland for the congested estate of Phibbs-Irwin (in lunacy), situate in Turlough parish, county Mayo; and, in view of the fact that the neighbouring properties of Lord Norbury and Mr. H. Darcy, from which the Phibbs-Irwin tenants have hitherto obtained their turbary, have been acquired by the Board, will he endeavour to expedite the Phibbs-Irwin sale so that the necessary turbary rights may be vested in the tenants?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for the purchase of the Phibbs-Irwin estate, but the question of doing so will be considered as soon as practicable.

Mr. DORIS

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer to Mr. Robert Acton for the purchase of his estate at Ballinlasser, Belcarra, county Mayo, or what stage the negotiations for purchase have reached?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Congested Districts Board have made an offer for the purchase of this property which has been accepted by the vendor, but a formal agreement for purchase has not yet been signed.

Mr. DORIS

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. W. Joyce has yet consented to sell his estate in Breaghy, county Mayo, to the Congested Districts Board, or has he refused to do so?

Mr. BIRRELL

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's question on this subject on the 23rd February last.

Mr. DORIS

asked the Chief Secretary whether the offers of the Congested Districts Board to Messrs. James Foy and Mark Foy for their properties in Turlough parish, county Mayo, have been accepted or rejected?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Congested Districts Board inform me that their offer for the purchase of Mr. James Foy's estate has not yet been accepted or refused. The Board's offer for Mr. Mark Foy's estate has been refused.

30. Mr. DORIS

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Misses Crotty have yet made an offer to sell their congested estate at Kinnewry, county Mayo, through the Congested Districts Board; and, if not, will the Board communicate with the owners with a view to a sale?

Mr. BIRRELL

The estate referred to has not been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board. A further communication will now be addressed to the agent for the property.

Mr. LUNDON

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the untenanted land on the Stafford Delmege estate at Garry-spillane, Knocklong, county Limerick, will be distributed?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Estates Commissioners are in communication with the owner with a view to the issue of a formal proposal for the purchase of the untenanted land referred to. They are not at present in a position to say when the land, if acquired, may be distributed.