HC Deb 10 September 1909 vol 10 cc1718-20W
Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state when the Estates Commissioners first decided that Thomas O'Donnell, an evicted tenant from Drum-conlester, county Cavan, was suitable to be provided with a farm, has this decision been altered; if so, when; will he state the grounds of the fresh decision, if any; and whether O'Donnell was given an opportunity of knowing about or being present at the proceedings affecting the interest of this evicted tenant and his family?

Mr. BIRRELL

O'Donnell's name was provisionally noted in 1907 for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land, but, on further consideration, the Estates Commissioners decided to take no action on his application. The Commissioners inform me that they communicated this decision to the hon. Member on behalf of the applicant. O'Donnell's sister had been reinstated in the holding referred to in his application. She appears to have been the original tenant.

Mr. KENNEDY

also asked the Chief Secretary if he will state whether the Estates Commissioners intend to have Charles Lynch, who was evicted from his farm in the townland of Killycannon, county Cavan, reinstated; how often has this evicted tenant been inspected, and what is the date of the last inspection; and how many evicted tenants still await reinstatement in county Cavan?

Mr. BIRRELL

Lynch's former holding is in the occupation of another tenant, and his application has been provisionally noted by the Estates Commissioners for consideration in the allotment of such untenanted land in the county Cavan as they may be able to acquire. Thirty-seven applications from other persons in county Cavan seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants have been similarly noted for consideration.

Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

further asked the Chief Secretary if he will state what lands have been acquired in county Cavan under the Evicted Tenants Act; how many evicted tenants are yet to be reinstated in this county; what work, if any, has been done in county Cavan for the evicted tenants since 1st May last; and will he give the names of the owner, townland, and area acquired, or proposed to be acquired, under the Evicted Tenants Act in county Cavan?

Mr. BIRRELL

No lands have yet been acquired by the Estates Commissioners in the county Cavan under the evicted Tenants Act, but some 500 acres in that county are in process of being acquired under the provisions of that Act comprising portions of the lands of Corehill, Lecharry, Mullacastle, Tonylion, Leiter, Ballytrust, Ballytrust lower, Drumakinneo, Cornacarrow, Lisgannon, Ratrussan, on the estate of John Fay, part of the lands of Pottle on the estate of Eugene MacManus, and part of the lands of Rosehill and Gort-naleck on the estate of Thomas Fegan. The applications of 38 persons seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants have been noted for consideration in the allotment of such untenanted land as the Commissioners may acquire under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907.