§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Chief Secretary the total amounts paid in Ireland for land under each of the respective Land Purchase Acts, the amount of the purchase money of land agreed to be purchased under recent purchase Acts, and for which the purchase money has not yet been paid, showing whether these estates are to be paid for with cash, stock, or part cash and part stock; and will he state the sum estimated to be necessary to complete land purchase in Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe amounts advanced for land purchase under the Irish Land Purchase Acts up to the 31st March, 1912, were as follows:—
£ Act of 1870 … … 518,933 Act of 1881 … … 240,801 Act of 1885 … … 9,992,536 Acts of 1891–1896 … … 13,146,892 Act of 1903 … … 49,128,508 Act of 1909 … … 1,488,039 Total … … £74,515,709 This figure does not include advances amounting to £3,588,829 made out of the Land Purchase Fund pursuant to Section 16 of the Labourers Act, 1906, and is also exclusive of payments in cash amounting to £1,358,898 made by tenant purchasers in part payment of the purchase money of their holdings. The amounts applied for, but not advanced on the 31st March, 1912, were:—
and in addition the Congested Districts Board were in negotiation for the purchase of lands in the Congested Districts counties of an estimated purchase money of four and a half millions in respect of which agreements had not been entered into on that date. The purchase money under the Act of 1909 is payable in Three per cent. Guaranteed Land Stock equal in nominal amount to the sum to be advanced, while in the case of pending sales under the Act of 1903 the purchase money is payable in cash as regards £27,415,861. and as regards the balance vendors elected to accept payment either wholly or partly in Guaranteed Two and three-quarters per 853W cent. Stock in accordance with Section 3 (2) of the Act of 1909 for their estates representing a purchase money of (a) £6,632,244, (b) £1,508,250 in (a) half stock, half cash, and (b) wholly in stock. Parliamentary Paper (Cd.6130 of this year) gives the most recent estimate prepared as regards the information asked for in the concluding portion of the question.
£ Act of 1903 … … 35,556,355 Act of 1909 … … 2,609,533 Total … … £38,165,888
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of estates, and the approximate aggregate number of holdings on them, registered with the Estates Commissioners for sale in each year since the Commissioners were established; and, in view of the further check upon sales likely to result from such a proposal, whether an intention to increase the bonus exists?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe number of holdings in respect of which agreements for sale through the Estates Commissioners were entered into in each year since the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the number of "separate estates" on which such holdings are situate, are as follows:—
Period. Holdings. Estates. From 1st November, 1903, to 31st March, 1905 46,282 1,810 Year ending 31st March, 1906 50,966 1,786 Year ending 31st March, 1907 29,244 1,102 Year ending 31st March, 1908 32,989 1,336 Year ending 31st March, 1909 77,139 2,536 Year ending 31st March, 1910 10,721 305 Year ending 31st March, 1911 7,954 715 Year ending 31st March, 1912 10,542 612 These figures include sales to the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board in respect of which the offers of the Commissioners or the Board have been accepted and formal proceedings for sale instituted before the Estates Commissioners. I am not aware of any proposal to increase the bonus.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, upon the Gunning estate in county Roscommon which is the subject of direct sale between landlord and tenant, there is a grazing ranch, known as the Cloonmarly farm, in respect of which an advance has been refused by the Estates Commissioners; whether the Congested Districts Board possesses the power to acquire such land when needed for the relief of congestion and the enlargement of uneconomic holdings; and, if so, whether, in view of the 854W fact that this particular land is much required for these purposes, the Congested Districts Board has made any inquiries or taken any steps for the acquisition of this land?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe sale of this estate, exclusive of the Cloonmarly farm, will be completed by the Estates Commissioners in accordance with the purchase agreements signed by the tenants, and it will then be open to the Congested Districts Board to enter into negotiations for the purchase of the excluded lands.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked what action has the Congested Districts Board taken to acquire the property of Mr. A. O'Connor, Amersden, Maidenhead, situated in the parish of Ballinlough, county Roscommon, which is one of the poorest and most congested estates in the West of Ireland; if Mr. O'Connell has notified his intention to sell and the tenants their willingness to buy; and if, under these circumstances, the negotiations for its purchase will be expedited as much as possible?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have been in correspondence with Mr. Arthur O'Connor regarding the estate referred to, but, so far, he has not lodged the necessary maps and other particulars to enable a preliminary inspection to be made of the property. The Board understand that the tenants are desirous of purchasing their holdings, but until the necessary documents are lodged they cannot take any action in the matter.