§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the tenantry on he estate of Mr. John Mulhall, and others, situate in the townlands of Carricknagat and Knocnageeha, near Collooney, county Sligo, forwarded a petition to the Congested Districts Board on the 10th March, 1910, wherein they pointed out that in that district there were 140 landholders under £7 valuation, whilst the estate in question contained untenanted land to the extent of 1,200 acres; and, if so, can he say what steps are being, or will be, taken by the Board to take this estate over, and thus relieve congestion in that poor district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board received the memorial referred to on 10th March, 1910, but the particulars given in the question were not mentioned.162W The Board communicated with the agent, asking whether the owner would negotiate for the sale of the estate through the Board, but have received no reply.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary whether the townland of Cloonelly, in the parish of Ballysumagan, situate near Ballintogher, Collooney, county Sligo, has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board by the trustee of the property, Mr. A. Gilmor, J.P., Ballymote, county Sligo; whether he is aware that this estate contains a large ranch suitable for the enlargement of small holdings in the district; and, if so, whether, in case of purchase, the claim of Richard Feehily, long acting as herd, but now homeless, for a farm will be considered?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe townland referred to has not been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board. When the Board purchase an estate it is their practice to give careful consideration to the case of any herd belonging to the estate in connection with the distribution of untenanted land.
§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary if he will consider the case of Mr. William Gilchrist, who signed an agreement to purchase his holding of Ballycummin, county Roscommon, he being the only tenant on the estate, in January, 1907, and is paying 4½ per cent. interest on the purchase money while waiting for the advance, this payment representing £14 13s. a year in excess of the purchase instalment; and if he can state when the advance in this case will be made by the Land Commission?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate on which the holding referred to is situated is on the principal register of direct sales, and the Estates Commissioners cannot at present say when its turn will be reached, but when so reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have received memorials from the tenants of Skreen and Dromard, county Sligo, in reference to the seventeen estates in that district; whether the Board have decided to purchase these estates; and what progress towards purchase has been made in the various cases?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board received memorials from land-holders of Skreen and Dromard, 163W county Sligo, in reference to nine estates, not seventeen estates, as stated in the question. Of the nine estates referred to only one has been offered to the Board. In the remaining eight cases, the Board sent circulars to the vendors, or their agents, inviting them to offer the estates for sale, but in no case have they up to the present offered to do so. No further steps have been taken by the Board.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked whether the Congested Districts Board are now prepared to purchase the Ormsby Estate, near Ballina, county Sligo?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have no information with regard to the Ormsby estate in county Sligo. They received a memorial from the tenants on the Ormsby estate in Ballina Union, county Mayo, and communicated with the agent, asking him whether the owner would be prepared to negotiate for the sale of the property, but no reply has been received.