§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland in regard to the estate of Miss Olivia Creagh M'Mahon, West Clare, whether it is contemplated to divide amongst the tenants, in virtue of the Land Act of 1909, that portion of the grazing lands which lies in the townland of Clohaninchy; and whether this will be done as speedily as circumstances permit?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have been in communication with the owner of the estate referred to, but up to the present it has not been offered for sale through them.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken by the 1521W Congested Districts Board in negotiating for the purchase of the Brabazon estate, Clooncan, Ballinlough, county Roscommon; and whether, in view of the facts that the holdings on this estate are uneconomic and in need of the developing work of the Congested Districts Board, and that practically all the land around it has been purchased, will the sale of this estate be expedited as much as possible?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of this property with a view to a sale through the Congested Districts Board have been lodged. The estate has been inspected, and the Board hope to consider the question of making an offer for purchase at an early date.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked whether the Estates Commissioners have advanced more money to Lord Clarina for the un-tenanted land which he has bought in than he is entitled to; if so, will he say why the Act of Parliament has been overridden; and will he explain why one individual has been allowed to purchase 1,500 acres of untenanted land, some of which was evicted land, whilst congestion prevails in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second paragraph, the Estates Commissioners inform me that the purchase was carried out under the provisions of Section 3 of the Irish Land Act of 1903.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked whether an application for a second half-acre was received in the Kilmallock scheme from David M'Namara, of Rathany, Hospital; if not, was such application received by the tenant who preceded him in the occupation of the cottage; and, if the latter occurred, will the application hold good for David M'Namara, who became the tenant after the previous occupier had lodged notice of application?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board inform me that no such application was received from M'Namara. An application was made by his predecessor in the occupation of the cottage, Michael Keeffe, but it was received too late to be included by the rural district council in the scheme recently inquired into. The application would hold good for M'Namara if the1522W council think fit to include it in any scheme they may propose to make.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the cause of the delay in carrying out the additional half-acre scheme at Kilmallock; how it is that, although the local council are prepared to go into the open market and finance the scheme, they will not get the proper assistance from the Local Government Board; and will the latter body go into their inspector's report as soon as possible and thus enable things to be carried out with rapidity?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I have already informed the hon. Member this is a very large scheme involving no less than 695 additional half-acres. The local inquiry and the inspection of the plots of land sought to be acquired necessarily occupied a good deal of time. The order in this matter will be completed and issued by the Local Government Board as soon as possible.