§ Mr. DORISasked whether the Congested Districts Board have made any offer to the landlord for the purchase of the M'Alpine or M'Alpine-Robinson estate, situate at Windsor, near Castlebar, county Mayo; if not, when they hope to be in a position to make such offer; and when the negotiations for the purchase of this estate commenced?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for the purchase of the estate of Mr. A. K. S. M'Alpine-Robertson, county Mayo. The documents to enable the Board to have the property inspected were lodged in September, 1910. The estate has been valued, and the question of making an offer for purchase will be considered by the Board at their meeting next week.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet received an offer from Mr. Roche-Kelly to sell his congested estate near Newport, county Mayo?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of this property with a view to a sale through the Board have been lodged, and the question of purchasing the property will be considered in due course.
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§ Mr. DORISasked whether any negotiations have yet taken place between the Congested Districts Board and Lord Vaux for the sale of his congested estate near Newport, county Mayo; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have been in correspondence with the solicitors acting for Lord Vaux, and they have been informed that the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection are being prepared and will be lodged as soon as possible.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have requested Mr. Walter Joyce to sell his congested estate situate at Breaffy, near Castlebar, county Mayo; if so, with what result; and is he aware that of the twenty-five tenants on this estate thirteen occupy holdings the rents of which are under £5, while there are 400 acres of un-tenanted lands which might be made available for the enlargement of holdings and relief of congestion on the property?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have been in communication with Mr. Joyce's solicitors regarding a sale of his estate in county Mayo, and have been informed that he is unwilling to negotiate for sale except on a cash basis. The Board have no information regarding the circumstances of the property, except that furnished on behalf of the tenants.
§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board have received an application from the Cork Rural District Council to have an inquiry into a pending scheme of cottages and allotments; is he aware of the number of plots sought to be acquired in connection with this scheme; have representations been made of the urgency of the labourers' requirements for better housing accommodation in the district; and can he state when the inquiry will be held?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAn application has been received as indicated for an inquiry into a pending scheme involving 643 cottages. Representations have been duly made as to the necessity for increased housing accommodation, but the more urgent needs of other districts in the matter of accommodation for labourers have also to be taken into account. In this rural district the Labourers Acts have been liberally put into effect, no less than 1,538 cottages having been authorised to be provided, the amount of loans sanctioned far the purpose being more than a quarter326W of a million. The Local Government Board cannot say when an inquiry will be held, having regard to the necessity for giving priority to the schemes in districts where the requirements of the labourers have been less generously met.