§ Mr. HAZLETONasked how far the negotiations have been successful with regard to the transfer to the Congested Districts Board of the Killooney farm, Dunmore district, county Galway, offered to the Board during the past year by Mr. J. V. Smyth?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate of Mr. J. V. Smyth, Killooney, is at present being inspected, and the Congested Districts Board hope to consider the question of making an offer for its purchase at their next meeting.
§ Mr. HAZLETONasked what progress has been made with regard to the purchase of the Deering estate, Dunmore, county Galway, by the Congested Districts Board; and how the matter now stands?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are about to make an offer for the purchase of this estate.
§ Mr. HAZLETONasked whether the Dick estate, county Galway, has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board; and whether any offer has yet been made for its purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board understand that the owner of this property proposes to enter into negotiations with them for a sale of his Dunmore estate, but the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection to be made have not so far been lodged with them.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary whether, in regard to the Timmons estate, near Ennistymon, West Clare, he is aware that the tenants purchased in January, 1906, but that they are still paying 4 per cent, whereas in other estates in the neighbourhood purchased two years later the landlord has received the purchase money; and whether this estate will soon be finally dealt with?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate of Charlotte W. Tymons and others, County Clare, to which the hon. Member presumably refers, is being dealt with in order of priority on the principal register of direct sales (all cash). The tenants contracted in the purchase agreements signed by them to pay 4 per cent, interest in lieu of rent, pending the vesting of their holdings in them. The Estates Commissioners hope to be in a position to advance the purchase money and vest the holdings in the purchasing tenants at an early date. The Commissioners are not aware of the other estates referred to, but they are probably cases in which the purchase money was payable either wholly or partly in Guaranteed Land Stock, and not in all cash as in the present case.
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§ Mr. HAZLETONasked whether the Estates Commissioners have yet completed the purchase of the De Clifford Estate, portion of which is in the barony of Clare, county Galway; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay, seeing that the purchase agreements were entered into by the tenants as far back as May, 1908; and whether steps will be taken to complete the purchase at an early date?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale to the Estates Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts, and the Commissioners have no information as to the agreements referred to in the question. The property has been inspected, and the Commissioners hope to be in a position to issue their formal proposal to purchase it at an early date.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether the estate of Mr. Roche-Kelly, near Newport, county Mayo, has yet been acquired by the Congested Districts Board, or when the Board expect to complete the purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe offer of the Congested Districts Board for this property has been accepted by the owner, and the purchase will be completed as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether Mr. James Foy has lodged with the Congested Districts Board the necessary maps and papers with a view to a sale of his property in Cloontubrid, parish of Turlough, county Mayo?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe answer is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary when the final inspection of the estates of Mr. D. G. Fitzgerald, in the parishes of Turlough and Kildacomogue, county Mayo, was completed by the Congested Districts Board; if the Board has yet made an offer for the estates; and, if so, if it has been accepted or what is the cause of delay in completing the purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have not made the final inspection of the estate referred to and have not yet issued an offer for its purchase. The Board are at present in communication with the owner in reference to the property, and every effort is being made to bring the negotiations to a conclusion.
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§ Mr. DORISasked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet taken any steps to acquire the estate of Mrs. Foy, situate in Cloontubrid, parish of Turlough, county Mayo?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are in communication with the owner of this estate with a view to its purchase.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether any, and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to purchase the Bunnefedia farm, the property of Mrs. Munn, situated in the townland of Bunnefedia, parish of Dromard, county Sligo; and whether he is aware that there is a great demand on the part of local tenants and others for the purchase of this farm for the purpose of enlarging uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are negotiating for the purchase of the estate of A. H. L. Popham on which Mrs. Munn's farm is situate. The farm has been inspected and in the event of the purchase of the fee simple of the property the Board will consider the question of acquiring this farm.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have entered into negotiations for the purchase of the lands of St. Lawrence, situate in the townland of Leismabrine, parish of Dromard, county Sligo; whether he is aware of the fact that the owner is anxious to sell and the tenants are anxious to purchase, and whether he can explain the delay in taking over this estate for the settlement of congestion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that the owner of this estate has expressed his willingness to sell, but so far terms of purchase have not been agreed to.
§ Mr. HAZLETONasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have taken any steps yet and, if so, what steps for the purchase of the following properties in the parish of Caherlistrane, county Galway, namely, the Murphy estate, including the grazing lands of Tonacooleen; the Concannon property, Beaghmore; the F. J. Blake property, Pollnahalla; the Cullinan property, Donaghpatrick; the Count Blake property, Gortnapora; the J. Newell and G. Morris 1813W property, Oldtore; the Bernard estate, Castlehackett; and the J. O'Neill Don-nellan property, Cave?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate of Mr. M. B. Murphy has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, and a decision will be arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable. The Bernard estate is the subject of direct sale proceedings before the Estates Commissioners, and it is being dealt with in order of priority by them. The Congested Districts Board have communicated with the owners or the agents of the other estates mentioned, but so far none of them have been offered for sale through the Board.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked whether the Congested Districts Board have entered into negotiations for the purchase of that part of the Verschoyle estate situated in the townlands of Carrowkeel, Cloonakiemogue, and Altonilvick, in the parish of Dromard, county Sligo; and what progress has been made in acquiring those lands?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are not negotiating for the purchase of the lands referred to, but inquiries will be made regarding them.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked whether the Congested Districts Board have received a memorial from the tenants of Ardnaree requesting the Board to put in force their compulsory powers in order to acquire the estates of Arthur R. Verschoyle and Captain H. H. Jones, situated near Ballina; whether the Board's attention has been drawn to the fact that evictions are threatened on these estates; and what steps the Board will take to acquire these estates and alleviate the congestion and distress which now prevails there?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSeveral representations have been made to the Congested Districts Board on behalf of the tenants of the Ardnaree, county Mayo, estate of Captain II. H. Jones; asking the Board to purchase this estate. It has been alleged that evictions have taken place on the property. The owner has intimated his willingness to negotiate for a sale through the Board, and it is understood that the maps and other documents necessary to enable an inspection of the lands to be made will shortly be lodged. As regards the Verschoyle estate, in the same district, similar representations have been made1814W on behalf of the tenants, but no allegation has been made as regards evictions. This estate has not yet been offered for sale to the Board, and it is not proposed at present to take any steps to acquire these estates compulsorily.