§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board has again approached Sir Morgan O'Connell with a view to the sale of his property at Mastergechy and Bally-carberry, county Kerry; and can he state the result of the negotiations?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe Congested Districts Board wrote to the landlord of this property on the 6th instant, and no answer has yet been received.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary whether the Harlech estate, situate in the electoral division of Leitrim, union of Tubbercurry, county Sligo, which was sold to the tenants through the Estates Commissioners some years ago, has lately-been transferred to the Congested Districts Board; whether this congested estate contains a large grazing farm, known as Leitrim Hill, and at present in the occupation of a non-residential landlord and grazier, Mr. Phibbs, J.P.; if he can state the nature of Mr. Phibbs' title to this farm; and if he can say whether steps will be taken to have it acquired for the purpose of enlarging the uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe portion of the Harlech estate situate in County Sligo to which the hon. Member presumably refers has not been transferred to the Congested Districts Board. The lands of Leitrim South, part of which are situated on the estate of Lord Harlech, are at present pending before the Estates Commissioners for sale direct to the tenants under Section 1 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, except that part held in fee by Mr. Charles Phibbs, who purchased it some years ago from Lord Harlech, and who does not desire to dispose of it.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary what progress, if any, has been made by the Congested Districts Board in purchasing the estates of Parkes, Dunally, county Sligo, Wynne, county Sligo, Gore Booth, county Sligo, and Middleton, Ross's Point, county Sligo?
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§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYNegotiations for the purchase of the Parker estate by the Congested Districts Board were suspended owing to the death of the owner. Nothing has been done since. The Wynne estate and one townland on the Gore-Booth estate have been offered to the Board, and an inspection will be made as soon as practicable. Inquiries are being made as to other portions of the latter estate. As regards the Middleton estate, the agent was informed some time ago that if the owner was willing to sell the Board were prepared to negotiate. So far the estate has not been offered to the Board.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the position of various tenants on the Erasmus Smith property, situate in Keelogoboy, parish of Calry, county Sligo, whose farms are not purchased and who are still paying high rents, and are being pressed for arrears of rent; and whether as the estate in question and the holdings are congested, the lands remaining unpurchased, will he at once acquire them by the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board, and transfer them to the tenants?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYProceedings for the sale of this estate under Section 1 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, are pending before the Estates Commissioners. Purchase agreements have not been lodged in respect of six holdings on the townland referred to comprising some 176 acres, and when the estate is being dealt with in order of priority, the cases of these and any other tenants on the estate who have not signed purchase agreements will be inquired into by the Commissioners. The Congested Districts Board received memorials asking them to negotiate for the sale of the unsold portion of this estate, but as proceedings were still pending before the Estates Commissioners the Board declined to take any action pending the result of these proceedings.
§ Mr. O'SHEEasked the Chief Secretary whether he will ask the Estates Commissioners to consider the advisability of proceeding under the compulsory powers given to them by the Irish Land Act of 1909, for the purpose of acquiring all the land in the possession of Mr. Charles Nugent Humble in the county of Water-ford, except such portions as have been acquired by him under the Land Purchase Acts?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners will consider whether it would be possible or justifiable for them to acquire the lands referred to, or portion thereof, for the purposes of distribution?
§ Mr. JOHN ROCHEasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners will take steps to have Sir H. Grattan Bellew include all the grass lands outside demesne and home farm included in the sale of his estate in the county of Galway for the purpose of enlargement of small holdings thereon?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe owner has accepted the Estates Commissioners' formal proposal for the purchase of some 1,700 acres of untenanted land on this estate, and the Commissioners will consider the question of dividing this land as soon as it is acquired by them.
§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the lands of Shinglass, on Colonel Malone's estate, near Ballymore, county Westmeath; and, if so, when those lands will be available for distribution?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe lands referred to have not been acquired by the Estates Commissioners, but they recently informed the owner of the price they would be prepared to advance for the purchase of the lands under the Land Purchase Acts.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary whether, in regard to the estate of Bridget Collins, of Knock, county Clare, which was inspected in August, 1910, he can state in what condition of progress the matter now stands; and whether, in view of the poverty of the land in question and the circumstances of the tenants, he will expedite the business in connection with this estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board informed the agent of the Collins estate that the Board would be willing to negotiate for a sale to the tenants, but an answer has not yet been received. The agent will be communicated with again.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether the return in the form of a Land Purchase County Atlas (Ireland), of which notice stands on the Order Paper, will be granted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am not prepared to grant the return asked for.