§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of the state of congestion which exists in the neighbourhood of Dunmore, county Galway; does he know that practically 200 holdings are to be found north of the town in Dunmore, in the parish of Dunmore, with holdings not exceeding £3 in valuation; is he aware that the landlord of this congested area, the representatives of George E. Deering, London, lodged maps, etc., with the Congested Districts Board so long ago as 6th November, 1911, preparatory to sale; and, having regard to the state of this district, will he communicate with the Congested Districts Board and cause them to deal with this property?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe necessary documents to enable the Congested Districts Board to have the property inspected were lodged on 23rd November last. The property will be valued, and the question of making an offer for purchase will be considered as soon as practicable. From the particulars lodged it would appear that in the agricultural portion of the Dunmore section of the property there are 135 tenants whose holdings are under £7 valuation.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Daniel M'Closky, of Mullans, county Donegal, who is in possession of a small farm, numbered in Receivable Order A 48/48 Estate Areas 2991, county Donegal, in respect of which a purchase agreement was entered into several years ago, is still paying interest in lieu of rent, whereas his immediate neighbours on the same estate were apprised that the landlord had been paid the purchase money of their 738W holdings in 27th June, 1910, and are paying annuities to the Estates Commissioners, while Mr. M'Closky, who has twice written to the Commissioners asking to be placed in the same position as his neighbours, has received no reply; what is the reason for the difference in treatment accorded to Mr. M'Closky; and whether steps will be immediately taken to give him the status of the payer of an annuity to the Estates Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the holdings of Daniel M'Closky and certain other tenants on this estate have not been vested in them pending the completion by the vendor of satisfactory arrangements for the transfer of the turbary on the estate to the tenants or to trustees for the tenants. The Commissioners are informed by the solicitors for the vendor that they have done everything in their power to expedite the matter, and that the delay is due to difficulties which have been raised by the tenants, who have not yet returned the draft deed for the disposal of the turbary sent to them by the vendor's solicitor.