§ Mr. T. M. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether in October, 1916, the coastguard station at Cahirciveen was abolished by the naval authorities, and in February last the station and 2617W the commander's residence were surrendered to the Congested Districts Board by the Admiralty; whether on 12th March the fee simple of these houses were sold secretly by the Board, the commander's house to Mr. James Shuel, solicitor, for £400, and the coastguard station to Mr. B. Sheehan for £250; why were these houses not put up for public auction and the public given an opportunity to compete for them; whether the commander's residence would have realised from £800 to £1,000, and the coastguard station about £500 or £600; whether this artificial prevention of competition has resulted in a loss of about £800 to this congested district; were any posters put up inviting tenders for private sale; do Mr. Shuel and Mr. McClean, the chief officer of the Congested Districts Board in Kerry, belong to the same secret society, and is Mr. Shuel a personal friend of Mr. Sheehan; has the latter houses and land elsewhere, and only wanted the coastguard station for speculation; has he sub-let it now for £34 per annum; are there a number of people in the town having no houses of their own who were anxious to purchase but got no opportunity; and will the Congested Districts Board take steps to set aside the sale as a fraud on the public or direct a public inquiry in Cahirciveen as to the facts?
§ Mr. DUKEIn September, 1916, the Congested Districts Board received notice that the Admiralty had decided to abolish the coastguard station at Cahirciveen, and the Board accepted a surrender of the premises last February. The sale of the promises was not advertised, and they were not put up for public auction, as the intended sale was well known in the district. A number of persons inquired whether the Board would let or sell the premises, and were informed that it was the Board's intention to sell, and they2618W were asked to make offers if they so desired. It was not considered likely that a higher price would be obtained by auction, and the Board decided to accept the highest offers received, which were slightly in excess of the price agreed to be paid to the vendors of the estate, on which the coastguard station is situated. The Board are satisfied with the prices obtained, and no loss of public funds has resulted by reason of the sale. I have no knowledge of the persons mentioned in the question, or of the property owned by Mr. Sheehan, and I am informed that no conditions were made as to how the premises should be dealt with by the purchasers. The Congested Districts Board are not in a position to set aside the sale, and they do not consider that there are any grounds for a public inquiry in connection with the matter.
The following tenders were received:
For the Divisional Officer's House, an offer of £420 from Mr. Shuel, which was accepted;
For the Coastguard Houses, an offer of £400 from Mr. B. Sheehan, which was accepted;
For the Coastguard Houses, an offer of £250 from Mr. P. J. O'Shea;
For Coastguard Houses, an offer first of £l60, and a second offer on the same day of £180 from Mr. T. Garvey.