§ Mr. O'DOWDasked whether the tenantry on the estate of Major R. Phibbs, situate in the electoral division of Cloonoghill, Tubbercurry union, county Sligo, entered into agreements for the purchase of their holdings in 1905; whether this estate has yet been vested in the Estates Commissioners; and, if not, whether it is contemplated to hand over its jurisdiction to the newly constituted Congested Districts Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that agreements were lodged in the Land Commission in 1905 for the purchase of the estate in question direct by the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Commissioners have referred the papers in connection with the estate to an inspector, and until his report is before them they will not be in a position to make any statement as to how the estate will be dealt with.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary whether he can give the names of those landlords residing in the unions of Tubbercurry, Boyle (No. 2), and Sligo, county Sligo, who have been approached by the Congested Districts Board with the view of the purchase of their estates since the Act of 1909 came into operation; and whether he can state the general result of the negotiations and say what steps the Board propose to take in order to bring sales about?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board since 6th January, 1910, invited 132 landlords in the county Sligo to sell their estates through the Board, but returns are not kept according to Poor Law Unions, so that the information cannot be given in the form suggested in the question. Twenty-four estates (including five transferred from the Estates Commis-826W sioners) have been offered for sale to the Board. Of these twenty-four, one purchase has been completed, and the Board are about to make offers for two other estates. The remaining twenty-one estates will be valued as soon as possible, and offers made to the landlords. The Board intend to make "final offers" with a view to compulsory purchase of some estates in the county Sligo. It is not desirable that the names of the landlords in question should be given.
§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENasked how many tenants purchased, in the counties of Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary, respectively, from the date of the passing of the Land Purchase Act of 1907 to the date of the passing of the Act of 1909; how many had purchased since the latter date and on the financial terms of the Act of 1909; and what was, under each head, the average and the amount of purchase money?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that purchase agreements for holdings on estates situate in the counties of Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary have been lodged as follows: At 3¼ per cent. annuities under the Irish Land Act of 1903 from the commencement of that Act (1st November, 1903) to the 15th September, 1909:—
Country. Purchasing Tenants. Purchase Money. Average Number of Years Purchase. Cork 18,196 … £8,497,642 … 21.3 Limerick. 8,934 … £4,711,795 … 21.4 Tipperary 11,016 … £4,942,766 … 21.5 At 3½ per cent. annuities under the Irish Land Act 1909.
Cork 492 … £204,109 … 19.1 Limerick. 180 … £73,754 … 20.6 Tipperary 357 … £130,720 … 19.9
§ Mr. JOHN ROCHEasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that there are only nine tenants upon the Lahaffe estate, New Inn, county Galway, five of them with valuations ranging from £1 7s. to £4 10s.; and whether it is the intention of the Estates Commissioners to advance money to others for the purchase of the only grass lands upon the estate and leave the small tenants unprovided for?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is presumed that the hon. Member refers to the Lahiffe Estate, County Galway, which is the subject of proceedings for sale to the Estates Commissioners in the Land Judge's Court under the Land Purchase Acts. The Com- 827W missioners will not be in a position to consider the allotment of the untenanted land on the estate until they have received their inspector's report in reference thereto.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked whether any communication was addressed to Mr. Martin M'Donagh, of Galway City, by the Congested Districts Board in reference to the purchase by the Board of the Maratigue Farm, near Athenry, and with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLA communication was addressed to Mr. Martin M'Donagh by the Congested Districts Board, and he offered to sell the lands in question. A valuation of the estate will be made by the Board's valuers as soon as possible, after which the owner will be informed what price the Board are willing to give.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked when the Estates Commissioners expect to be able to deal with the estate of Captain Burke and others, situate in the district of Bally-doogan, Loughrea?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings for the sale of the estate in question to the Estates Commissioners under the Irish Land Act (1903) are pending before the Commissioners. The estate is on the principle register of sales to the Estates Commissioner (all cash), and having regard to its position thereon, and to the claims of other estates in priority to it, the Commissioners are not at present able to say when its turn will be reached. The estate will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked how soon may the tenants on the estate of the Earl of Sandwich, at Ballinlough, Kileely, county Limerick, expect to have their holdings vested in them; and, as the sale has now been made for more than five years, will the matter be completed as soon as possible?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate referred to is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash). Having regard to its position thereon and the claims of other estates in priority to it they are at present unable to say when its turn will be reached, but when reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. JOHN ROCHEasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received a petition from the tenants upon the Moylough portion of the 828W Sir H. Gratten Bellew estate, in the county of Galway, protesting against the advance of money to a Mr. O'Rorke to purchase a large portion of the grass lands at present let upon the 11-months system; whether he is aware that Mr. O'Rorke holds about 400 acres upon the Jameson estate and 150 acres upon the Digby estate, and lives upon a large estate of his own about seven miles from the Sir H. Gratten Bellew estate; and whether he will direct the Estates Commissioners to have the intentions of Parliament carried out by having the land distributed amongst the small holders on the estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have received several memorials from the tenants on the estate referred to which will be fully considered when the estate is being dealt with. The Commissioners understand that Mr. O'Rorke has lands other than those which he holds from Sir Henry Gratten Bellew, but they cannot say whether the particulars given in the question as to these lands are correct.