§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction which exists in county Sligo on account of the failure of the Congested Districts Board to take reasonably prompt steps to acquire for the purposes of the Land Act of 1909 the unoccupied lands and grazing ranches in the county suitable and available for the relief and settlement of congestion; whether he will give any explanation of this delay; and whether he can now promise that the Board will proceed without any further delay to acquire these lands either by bargain or by exercising the compulsory powers conferred upon them by statute?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere has been some difficulty and delay in arranging for the voluntary purchase of untenanted lands in County Sligo. This has been due to the difficulty of bringing negotiations for voluntary purchase to a successful isue. The Congested Districts Board have now determined to make final offers for voluntary purchase in this and other counties,406W and if these are not accepted they will put in force the compulsory powers conferred by the Irish Land Act, 1909.