§ Mr. DELANYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the untenanted land of Kilcoke, estate of Dr. Thompson, Ballybrophy, Queen's County, has been purchased by the Estates Commissioners; and, in that event, can he say how the Commissioners propose to dispose of the farm?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The lands referred to are the subject of proceedings under the Evicted Tenants Act, and until acquired by the Estates Commissioners they cannot make any allotment of them.
§ Mr. DELANYasked whether the farm of Levalley, estate of the trustees of Cowan, Rathdowney, Queen's County, has yet been acquired by the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, whether the claims of the fifteen small holders living on uneconomic farms adjacent to this un- 1028W tenanted land, who forwarded a memorial to the Commissioners last August, asking for an enlargement of their holdings, will be acceded to?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 5th August last, to which I have nothing to add at present.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board has yet acquired the estate of the late Sir Nicholas R. O'Conor, Dundermot, Ballymoe, county Roscommon; if so, whether he will state the extent and situation of the lands to be retained by the trustees; and, if the estate is not purchased, whether negotiations have been entered upon for the sale of the same, and what is the present position of these negotiations?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are at present in negotiation with the owner for the purchase of the estate referred to.
§ Mr. FFRENCHasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the particulars of the lands on the Boyd (Boyd v. Neate) estate, county Wexford, were supplied to the Estates Commissioners over eighteen months ago; that since the Chancery Courts gave the necessary permission for a sale of this estate last April nothing has apparently been done since by the Commissioners to complete the purchase; if he will inquire how the matter now stands; and what steps the Commissioners intend to take in this case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners are unable to take any further action as regards the purchase of these lands until formal proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts have been instituted before them.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the area of bog and of cultivable land, respectively, purchased by trustees for common use in each rural district in Ireland, under the Land Purchase and Labourers Acts, amount of purchase money, rate of interest, and amount of annuity, showing in each case whether the trustees are the district councillors, or outsiders, or mixed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe statistics of the Estates Commissioners are not kept by rural districts, and they are not in a position to give the information in the form) asked for.
1029W
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked whether the estate of Miss M'Ternan, deceased, comprising the townlands of Tullinacross, Tullinawannia, and Tonaugh, in the parish of Killarga, county Leitrim, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board; and, if not, whether the Congested Districts Board will take steps to acquire this estate and relieve congestion in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate referred to has not, so far, been offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board, and the Estates Commissioners are unable to identify it as the subject of proceedings for sale before them.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet acquired the Parkes estate, Dunally, county Sligo; and, if not, will he state whether negotiations for the purchase of this estate are in progress?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 21st October to which I have nothing to add at present.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked whether the Congested Districts Board have made an offer for the purchase of the Gore Booth estate, county Sligo; whether the Board have been repeatedly requested to purchase the portion of this estate known as the Seven Cartrons, situate in the parish of Drumcliffe, a strip of land from which a large number of families were evicted, and which is required for the relief of congestion in the district; and what progress, if any, has been made by the Board towards the acquisition of the Seven Cartons?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have agreed to purchase the Bally-muldorry section of Sir J. Gore Booth's estate, and they have issued an offer for the purchase of the Ballymote section, and negotiations are pending. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 28th February last.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet purchased any of the estates in the parish of Castleconner, county Sligo; if not, will he explain the inactivity of the Board in this district; and can he give any assurance that the Board will now take steps to purchase the estates 1030W in this district and relieve the acute congestion prevalent there?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 21st ultimo, to which I have nothing to add at present.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer for the purchase of the Fitzgerald estate, Turlough, etc., county Mayo; if so, what were the terms of the offer; have they been accepted by the landlord; and what portion, if any, of the untenanted lands on the estate are not included in the proposed sale?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for the purchase of the estate referred to.