§ Mr. GUINEYasked how many evicted tenants were reinstated in the county Cork during the quarter ended 30th September, 1912; and how many acres of land were acquired by compulsory and voluntary acquirement by the Estates Commissioners in Cork County during the same period?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that four evicted tenants were reinstated in county Cork during the quarter ended 30th September, 1912. No land in that county was acquired by the Commissioners during that quarter. On the 30th September last proceedings were pending before the Commissioners for the sale to them of over 20,000 acres in county Cork, and they will be dealt with according as the estates on which the lands are situate are reached in order of priority.
1040W
§ Mr. LOUGHasked the Chief Secretary what qualifications are held to be necessary to entitle an evicted tenant to the benefits of the Evicted Tenants Acts; how many evicted tenants were entitled to reinstatement; how many have been reinstated up to the present; how many cases remain to be dealt with; and when he anticipates the work of reinstatement will be completed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs regards the first paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to Section 1 (2) (a) of the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Act, 1907. The number of evicted tenants entitled to reinstatement is the number approved by the Estates Commissioners in the exercise of the discretion vested in them by Statute. Up to the present 3,169 evicted tenants or their representatives hare been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with new holdings on lands acquired by the Commissioners, and 334 are provisionally noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land as acquired. These cases are being dealt with as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that John Costello, who was evicted from his holding at Mayo Abbey, county Mayo, by his landlord, Michael Walsh, made an application under the Evicted Tenants Act, in due time, for reinstatement in his holding or for a new holding; whether all the other conditions qualifying him for relief under the Evicted Tenants Act were complied with; was Walsh informed by inspectors of the Commissioners who investigated his case that his application would be granted; and can he give any reason why the Commissioners have recently decided upon refusing to reinstate this evicted tenant or to give him any relief under the Act?
§ Mr. BIRRELLCostello was nor a tenant, but only a sub-tenant, at the time of his eviction, and the Estates Commissioners cannot interfere with the present occupier of the lands, nor do they intend to provide Costello with a holding elsewhere.