§ Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the tenants on the Marshall estate, county Kerry, are again asked to pay interest at the rate of 3½ per cent., which gives no credit for sinking fund, instead of the annuity at 3¼ whether the landlord was paid the purchase money more than two and a-half years ago; if so, what is the cause of the delay in vesting the estate in the tenants; and what is proposed to be done with the over-payments which the tenants have made during the past two and a-half years?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to my numerous replies to his former questions on this subject. The Estates Commissioners expect that the holdings on this estate will be vested in the tenants during the present week. As I have already informed the hon. Member, there has been no overpayment made in this case by the tenants.
§ Mr. O'SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that agreements were entered into for the purchase of the Darley estate, Killarney, in 1907; that Mr. Cronin, of Ards, was then ready to sign on the terms offered to the other tenants, but was not allowed by the agent to do so owing to the application of Mrs. Sheehan, the only other tenant in the Ards portion of the estate, to be dealt with as an evicted tenant; that Mrs. Sheehan has since been recognised as such, and her farm compulsorily acquired; that an inspector visited the estate last September, and arranged with Mr. Cronin as to the price he would pay, promising him that the townland of Ards would be taken over at once, and vested in these two tenants, and, further, that he would get a grant for building; and whether the Estates Commissioners are now ready to carry out this 988W offer made to Mr. Cronin, who has been put to annoyance and law costs during the past four years?
§ Mr. BIRRELLProceedings for the sale of the lands of Crohane on the Darley Estate, county Kerry, direct to the tenants were instituted by the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and purchase agreements were lodged in 1908. The lands of Ards were not included in these sale proceedings, and no purchase agreements were lodged in respect of them. The Estates Commissioners, however, have acquired part of the lands of Ards under the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act, and have reinstated Mrs. Sheehan, widow of the tenant who had been evicted from them. They are at present in communication with the owner as to the purchase of Mr. Cronin's holding at Ards.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary if he can state whether the negotiations between the Congested Districts Board and Mr. Richard Kelly as to the proposed sale of his congested estate at Caher and Carramore, Louisburgh, county Mayo, have yet been closed; if so, with what result; and, if not, when the Board hope to be able to complete the purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that the negotiations for the purchase of this estate have not yet been closed. The question of making an offer for purchase will probably be considered by the Board at a very early date.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked how the sale of the town of Kilfinane now stands; and, in view of the rents charged for houses, will steps be taken to have the sale carried out?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo proceedings have been instituted before the Estates Commissioners for the sale of the holdings in Kilfinane under the Land Purchase Acts.