§ Mr. O'SHEEasked whether the Estates Commissioners have received copies of the resolutions passed by the Dungarvan, Abbeyside, and Ballinroad branch of the United Irish League, calling attention to the case of the evicted tenants of the Nugent Humble Estate Company, Waterford, and pointing out that the scheme for the acquisition of the untenanted lands in the possession of Mr. Charles Nugent Humble, which fell through, was ill-considered and was prepared without having the necessary local information, and requesting that a new scheme for the acquisition of these untenanted lands should be prepared, and whether steps will be taken in the matter by the Estates Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have received the resolutions referred to. They inform me that proceedings for the compulsory acquisition of certain lands held by Mr. Humble were instituted by them under the Evicted Tenants Act, but the owner appealed, and the High Court of Justice decided that the lands could not be acquired compulsorily. The Commissioners cannot take any further action with a view to the compulsory acquisition under the Evicted Tenants Act of the lands affected by that decision.
§ Mr. JAMES O'KELLYasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a tenant named Cox was evicted from his farm, in Ashbrook, county Roscommon, in 1885, and with his family emigrated to 804W America; that, on learning of the passage of the Evicted Tenants Act, the representative of the family, James Cox, made application through a solicitor and also filed the regulation forms with the Estates Commissioners in due time through his friends, and then returned to Ireland in the expectation of being promptly restored to his farm, but that for some reason his case has been neglected by the Estates Commissioners; and whether steps will be taken to restore him to the former holding of his family, which is now in the possession of the landlord?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received an application from James Cox for reinstatement in a holding on the Hanley estate, from which his father was evicted. The Commissioner's decided not to take any action in the case.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked whether the Estates Commissioners, when hearing the case of Simon Ryan, evicted tenant at Cross, Pallasgreen, county Limerick, took into account the fact that he had three sisters and one brother; having regard to the fact that Ryan's case was admitted to be a genuine one, but that he was refused an equivalent to his former holding because he was in occupation of a holding of twenty-five acres, will the Estates Commissioners give a rehearing to this case and have Ryan's brother or sisters provided with a holding equivalent at least to the one they were evicted from, and which is now in occupation of another tenant; and are the Commissioners aware that the house on the farm held at present by Ryan was built by the money earned through the labours of his sisters for fifteen years after their eviction.
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners were aware that the deceased, Patrick Ryan, had left other children besides Simon Ryan, when they decided not to provide his representatives with a holding. They are not prepared to reopen the matter.
§ Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELLasked whether the Estates Commissioners have inquired into the application made for reinstatement by Daniel O'Connor, evicted tenant, of Cloghane, county Kerry; and, if so, what decision have they arrived at in his case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have inquired into O'Connor's application for reinstatement and have 805W decided not to take any action in the matter. His former holding is in the possession of another tenant.
§ Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELLasked what is the result of the application for reinstatement of John Lynch, Hugh Crean, and John Courtney from their holdings at Ballinvagig, Minard, county Kerry, estate of John C. Hickson?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have inquired into and considered the applications of John Lynch, Hugh Crean, and John Courtney, for reinstatement in holdings on this estate, and have decided not to take any action in the matter.
§ Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELLasked what steps have been taken for the reinstatement of Samuel Sullivan, evicted tenant, Dingle, county Kerry, on the Gallwey estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received an application from Margaret Sullivan, daughter of the former tenant and niece of Samuel Sullivan. The Commissioners, after inquiry, decided to take no action in the matter.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Margaret Glazier, of Banemore, Listowel, an evicted tenant on the Palmer estate, for reinstatement; and what action have the Estates Commissioners taken in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Margaret Glazier. Proceedings for the compulsory acquisition of the lands in question under the Evicted Tenants Act are at present pending before the Commissioners.
§ Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELLasked what steps have been taken for the reinstatement of Mr. Denis M'Carthy, Main Street, Dingle, in his farm; and whether, as the present occupier is willing to accept compensation, steps will be taken to have the evicted tenant reinstated at once?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received an application from Denis M'Carthy for reinstatement in his former holding of about 3½ acres on this estate which is now occupied by another tenant, and decided not to take any action in the matter.
§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary whether he can hold out any hope that Mrs. Mary Callaghan, whose claim as an evicted tenant on the White estate, 806W Bantry, has been admitted and approved by the Estates Commissioners, will be provided with a holding out of some of the untenanted land which is at present in process of being acquired in Cork county under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe application of Mrs. Callaghan, whose former holding has been purchased by the present occupier under the Land Purchase Acts, has been noted by the Estates Commissioners for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land to be acquired by them.
§ Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have inquired into the case of John Cronin, evicted tenant, of Droumavally, Ballyseedy, Tralee; and what steps have been taken for his reinstatement?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have inquired into this case and have decided to take no action in the matter.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked if the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Maurice Sheahan, an evicted tenant on the Ormaithwaite estate, living at Coilbee, Listowel; and whether the Estates Commissioners will make an immediate inquiry into his case with a view of giving him a free grant for stock and buildings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have received an application for a grant from Sheahan who was reinstated by the landlord fourteen years ago. The application will be considered when the estate is being dealt with.
§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the circumstances under which a tenant of a labourer's cottage at Moynska, in the Listowel rural district, named Gouran, was evicted from it; whether he is aware that the present tenant is a Mrs. Barry, who possesses no qualifications to entitle her to a labourer's cottage; that there was a resolution passed by the council in favour of the reinstatement of Gouran under certain conditions; and, seeing that he is a bonâ fide labourer with a helpless young family, will the Local Government Board recommend that the cottage should be given to him in preference to a person who has no proper or legal claim to the tenancy of a labourer's cottage?
§ Mr. BIRRELLGouran appears to have been evicted from the labourer's cottage on two or three occasions for non-payment 807W of rent. The arrears having been struck off, Mrs. Gouran was appointed tenant, but she also had to be evicted for the same reason. Mrs. Barry, the present tenant, does not appear to be an agricultural labourer within the meaning of the Labourers Acts. The council passed a resolution on 5th November last ordering notice to quit to be served on Mrs. Barry, apparently with a view to the reinstatement of Gouran, but the resolution was rescinded on 3rd December last. The Local Government Board have already written to the council stating that Mrs. Barry's tenancy should be terminated as neither she nor her husband is an agricultural labourer and that the cottage should be let to a suitable tenant. The suggestion that the Board should recommend the council to let the cottage to Gouran, who has had to be evicted on previous occasions for his failure to pay the rent, is obviously one which cannot be acted upon.
§ Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELLasked whether the Estates Commissioners have inquired into the case of Maurice Barry, evicted tenant, of Lougher, Annascaul, county Kerry, Ventry estate; whether the farm is unoccupied and the evicted tenant in very poor circumstances; and will steps be taken at once to have him reinstated?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners decided to take no action in reference to Barry's application for reinstatement, but it may foe possible to effect the reinstatement of his mother, who appears to be the evicted tenant, when the estate is being dealt with.