§ Mr. HAVILAND-BURKEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, having regard to the fact that a prolonged litigation connected with Lord Ashtown's 2139W estate has resulted in the termination of the rights of Captain Trench to the large grazing lands at Ballynowlart, Brackna, Kings' County, the Estates Commissioners will now deal promptly with a memorial that they received nearly a year ago from 176 occupiers under the £7 valuation, begging them to deal with this estate purchase agreement as a matter of urgency and to take special precautions against the creation of tenancies on unoccupied lands in the interests of people other than those residing in the district and in bonâ fide need of accommodation; and whether the Estates Commissioners will exercise their statutory powers, if necessary, to deal with this estate or with any part of it as a congested district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners understand that Captain Trench's tenancy in the lands referred to has now terminated and that the owner is willing to negotiate for the sale of the lands to them. They are at present in communication with the agent as to arranging for a preliminary inspection of the lands with the view of estimating the amount which they would be prepared to advance for the purchase of the lands. They have also informed him that as some time must necessarily elapse before the Commissioners could complete the sale he should continue his arrangements for the temporary user of the lands until the Commissioners proposal to purchase is issued, and the statutory requirements as to title and other matters have been complied with. In the allotment of the lands, when acquired, the wants and circumstances of the occupiers of small holdings in the neighbourhood will be considered by the Commissioners.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary if he is now in a position to state the number of holdings in respect of which purchase agreements were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in the year 1912–13, the number of estates on which the holdings are situate, the number of holdings and of estates on the Commissioners' register not dealt with at the end of March last, the year in which the purchase agreements in the earliest of them were lodged; and whether the delay has been caused by shortage of money or by inability to cope with the work?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that in sales direct by owners to tenants under the Irish Land Acts some 5,600 agreements for the pur-2140W chase of holdings situate on some 400 estates were lodged with the Commissioners during the year ended 31st ultimo, on which date agreements for the sale of some 100,000 holdings situate on some 4,000 estates direct by vendors to tenants were pending before the Commissioners under these Acts. Estates are dealt with by the Commissioners in accordance with the priority Regulations made under Section 23 (8) of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and Section 4 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, and the advances made under the Land Purchase Acts during the year ended 31st ultimo, exceeded those made in any previous year.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEasked the Chief Secretary when the tenants on the Verschoyle estate, at Cloney, county Kildare, will have their farms vested in them; whether the farm at Cloney Castle, at present in the hands of the landlord or his agent, is for sale; and will the Estates Commissioners take steps to acquire these lands for the purpose of increasing the size of uneconomic holdings and relieving congestion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash) pending under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and having regard to the claims of other estates it is not expected that it will be reached for several years to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners. The owner has included in the lands some 400 acres of Cloney for sale to the Commissioners and they will consider its acquisition when they are dealing with the estate in order of priority.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEasked if an inspector visited the congested district of Lullymore, Rathangan, county Kildare, and made a report to the Estates Commissioners as to the existing conditions; and whether the Estates Commissioners have taken steps to acquire the untenanted land in the neighbourhood for the purpose of relieving congestion and increasing the size of uneconomic holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The inspector's report is awaiting the consideration of the Estates Commissioners.