§ Mr. JAMES O'KELLYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on the Keogh estate, Kiltrustan, county Roscommon, signed agreements to purchase their holdings six years ago; and will he state the reason for the delay in completing the purchase?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owners to the tenants in two sections under the Irish Land Act, 1903, some of the agreements having been lodged in April, 1907, and the remainder in October, 1908. The property will be dealt with in order of priority, but the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked whether the estate of Mr. John L. Powell, situate in Rinnatruffane, East, and Coolamooneen, parish of Geevagh, county Sligo, Boyle (No. 2) union, has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board; and, if not, 724W whether the Board will approach the landlord who resides at 57, Frankford Avenue, Rathgar, Dublin, with a view to the purchase of this small congested estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMr. John L. Powell's Estate comprising the townlands mentioned has not been offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board, but inquiry will be made regarding it. Terms for purchase have been arranged between Mr. Powell and the Board for the lands of Gorteen in the same neighbourhood.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary whether the attention of the Congested Districts Board has been called to the fact that there is a number of uneconomic holdings in the parish of Tisara, in the county Roscommon, and that in the same parish there is a large grazing ranch of 400 acres of untenanted land on the estate of Lord Ashtown, which is let on the eleven months' system, and that there are other landlords in the locality having about 1,000 acres also let upon the same system; and whether the Congested Districts Board has taken or intends to take any action for the acquisition of these lands for the relief of congestion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe attention of the Congested Districts Board has been called to this matter. The Board have taken no action with reference to the purchase from Lord Ashtown of untenanted land in county Roscommon, but inquiries will now be made regarding it. The Board are unable to identify the other lands from the particulars given in the question.
Captain O'NEILLasked whether the Land Commission have received an offer, approved by the landlord, for the mineral rights on part of the Adair estate, county Antrim; and, if so, what is the reason for delay in accepting an offer for the purpose of their development?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere has been no delay in dealing with the offer referred to, which was only received by the Estates Commissioners on the 20th ultimo. The offer has not been approved of in its entirety by the former landlord, as he considers the royalty offered on one class of mineral should be increased. The Commissioners are taking the necesary steps to comply with the provisions of the Irish Land Act, 1907, as to advertising for offers and serving notices on the purchasing tenants.
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§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the estate of Mrs. Clifford, Greenville, near Belturbet; and, if so, in the distribution of the untenanted land will provision be made for George E. Ryan, who was herd on the property and is desirous, though he happens to be a Protestant, to have an allotment?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. If this estate, which is the subject of proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts to the Estates Commissioners, is acquired by them Ryan's case will be considered by the Commissioners when they are distributing the untenanted lands on the estate.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked whether the tenantry on the Phibbs estate, situate near Ballinafad, county Sligo, rural district of Boyle (No. 2), forwarded a petition to the Congested Districts Board in December, 1910, praying that body to make an offer for the purchase of the property, which is mainly congested; and, if so, what action, if any, has since been taken in regard to the matter by the Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board received the petition referred to, and are in communication with the owner of the estate.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked whether the tenants on the Ffolliot estate, situate near Ballinafad, county Sligo, rural district of Boyle (No. 2), signed agreements for the purchase of their holdings so long ago as January, 1908; and, if so, when this estate will be vested either in the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings before the Estates Commissioners for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. It is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash), and will be dealt with in order of priority, but the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached. The purchase agreements were lodged with the Commissioners in May, 1908.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made offers for the Lord Norbury, Darcy, and Phibbs Irwin estates, in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo; and, if so, with what results?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have not yet made offers for the purchase of any of the estates referred to.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether Miss H. Phibbs has accepted the offer of the Congested Districts Board for her estate in the parish of Kildacamogue, Castlebar, county Mayo?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMiss Henrietta Phibbs has accepted the offer of the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of her estate in counties Mayo and Sligo.
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked when the money will be advanced on the sale of the Clement's estate, Manorhamilton, county Leitrim; and whether it is possible to include the town in the sale, having regard to the fact that the tenants are anxious to purchase their houses and the landlord may sell on reasonable terms?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale before the Estates Commissioners direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and will probably be reached in order of priority during the financial year commencing 1st April next. If purchase agreements are entered into between the owners and the tenants for the sale of the town holdings referred to under the Land Purchase Acts the Commissioners will, when dealing with the estate, consider what advances they could make on the security of the sites of the houses, the difference between the agreed prices, and the sums the Commissioners may advance to be lodged in cash by the purchasing tenants.