§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked what action the Estates Commissioners intend to take on the Report of their inspector dealing with the Mahony congested estate at Mount Collins, county Limerick?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis matter is receiving attention, but the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject.
Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDasked the number of estates dealt with in county Clare by the Congested Districts Board under the Act of 1909, showing the extent of land acquired and sub-divided amongst small holders, giving the names of the-estates and the amount paid for them or agreed to be paid for them; and whether 1203W the compulsory powers of the Board have been exercised in any cases?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have purchased nineteen estates in county Clare under the Act of 1909, containing 14,016 acres tenanted and 7,054 acres untenanted land. Of the untenanted lands 741 acres on seven estates have been distributed, and two of the other estates are at present being dealt with. Final offers were issued in the case of five of these estates. Estates to the total value of £129,079 have been purchased in the county.
§ Mr. DANIEL BOYLEasked the Chief Secretary if any progress has recently been made by the Congested Districts Board towards the acquisition of the Knox (Rappa) estate, county Mayo, and how the negotiations in the matter now stand?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe terms on which the Congested Districts Board are prepared to purchase this estate have not so far been accepted by the vendor.
§ Mr. DANIEL BOYLEasked the Chief Secretary what steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board towards acquiring the estate of Mr. Ughtred A. Knox, Mount Falcon, county Mayo; what conditions or reservations, if any, have been made by the owner in offering the estate, particularly as to reservations of untenanted lands; and if he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing amongst the tenantry on the estate on the subject of the reservation of these untenanted lands, the effect of which is to debar the possibility of the small tenancies being made into economic holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are not at present in a position to make any statement with regard to the negotiations for the purchase of this estate.
§ Mr. O'SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the tenants on the Dean estate, Brosna, county Kerry, have signed purchase agreements since 1908 and are still paying full interest; and if he will see that they get their vesting orders without further delay?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate has not yet been reached in order of priority, and, having regard to the claims of other estates on the register of direct sales (all cash), the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached.
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§ Mr. O'SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that in the Drummond estate, Cordal, county Kerry, which has been purchased for the past five years, there are two evicted farms which the landlord has been grazing and trying recently to sell privately; and if he will see his way to have those farms restored to their owner, Mr. R. E. Walsh, of Cordal?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs the hon. Member has already been informed, the Estates Commissioners inquired into Walsh's application for reinstatement, and decided not to take any action in the matter. They are not prepared to alter their decision.
§ Mr. DORISasked what reply, if any, the Congested Districts Board have received from the trustees of the Achill Mission estate, county Mayo, to the Board's request for a voluntary sale of the estate; and, having regard to the congested condition of the property, will the Board take steps to acquire it at an early date?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have nothing to add to the replies given to previous questions asked by the hon. Member on this subject.
§ Mr. DORISasked upon what grounds the Congested Districts Board have refused to give additional land to Michael Grady, junior, who is a tenant on an uneconomic holding on the Anketell-Jones I estate, at Knocklegan, Newport, county Mayo, which has been acquired by the Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe application of Michael Grady, junior, was carefully investigated and the Congested Districts Board decided not to entertain it as his holding on the Anketell-Jones Estate consists of only 1 rood 36 perches held at a rent of 4d. per annum which was given some years ago as an accommodation in connection with his holding on the Sir Roger Palmer Estate.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary the cause of the delay on the part of the Congested Districts Board in acquiring the various estates in Castleconnor, county Sligo, including the Knockroe estate of Mr. Charles Boyd; and whether the Board can give any assurance to the tenants of this district that the Board will now take prompt action to deal with the congestion of this district.
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have been in communication with 1205W Mr. Charles Boyd in reference to the purchase of his estate at Knockroe, but the maps and documents necessary to enable the Board to consider the question of making an offer have not yet been lodged. The Board are unable to identify the other estates in Castleconnor referred to unless the names of the owners of the properties are furnished.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether memorials and requests have been received by the Congested Districts Board from the tenants and others in Magherow, county Sligo, praying the Board to acquire for the relief of congestion that portion of the estate of Sir J. Gore-Booth known as the Seven Cartrons; whether he is aware of the fact that this land is no part of the landlord's demesne and that it was formerly peopled by small farmers and their families, who were all evicted without compensation of any kind, and of the further fact that Magherow is one of the poorest and most congested parts of county Sligo; and whether, in view of the hardship of the case, the Board will take steps to acquire the Seven Cartrons and re-establish the people upon this portion of the Gore-Booth property?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have received numerous memorials from the district referred to. With regard to the remainder of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to his previous question on this subject.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have been approached by the tenants and residents of the parishes of Skreen and Dromard, county Sligo, and requested to acquire the following untenanted and waste lands, namely: Seaforth farm, situated in the townland of Carrowbreaken, parish of Skreen; Salpont farm, in the townland of Ballenbeg; Doonflynn farm, in the townland of Doonflynn; and also the non-residential farm of Mrs. Geddes, in the townland of Dunmoran, Skreen; whether the Board have entered into negotiations with the proprietors for the purchase of the above lands; and what progress has been made, and when he expects the Board or the Estates Commissioners will be in a position to divide these lands so as to relieve the congested condition of the parishes of Skreen and Dromard in which there are 194 tenants whose holdings are under £7 annual value?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have been approached regarding the purchase of untenanted lands in the district named, but without further particulars they are unable to identify the Seaforth farm or the Salpont farm. The Board communicated with the owner of the Doonflynn farm and with Mrs. Geddes regarding her farm in the townland of Dunmoran, but so far these farms have not been offered for sale to the Board.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary with regard to the administration of the Land Act of 1909, how many estates in West Clare were dealt with as compared with the previous year, and what are respectively the total values in money of the estates concerned; and whether he will promise that during the present year more expedition will be observed in dealing with these matters?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Member will find in Table XXXI. appended to the Annual Report of the Estates Commissioners for the year ended 31st March, 1911, and Table XXXV. to the Report for the year ended 31st March last, detailed particulars of the advances made by the Commissioners in these years under the Act of 1909 for the purchase of estates in county Clare. During the year ended 31st December, 1911, the Congested Districts Board purchased seven estates in the county for £37,394, and during the year to 31st December, 1912, six estates for £79,238. The purchase of estates in county Clare will, I have no doubt, be proceeded with as rapidly as circumstances will admit.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary whether any progress has been made of late in dealing with the Kinlea property, West Clare, and the Reeves estate, West Clare; whether he is aware that these are comparatively small properties; that their settlement has been pending for years; that with business-like management the whole business on both could be disposed of in a week; that the nature of the operations of the Congested Districts Board has discouraged the tenants in West Clare; and whether in West Clare it is intended to proceed effectively this year in carrying out the provisions of the last Land Act?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate of W. V. Reeves, county Clare, was vested in the Congested Districts Board on 9th May last, and will be resold as soon as practicable. With regard to the Kinlea farm, I 1207W have nothing to add at present to the reply given to the question asked on this subject by the hon. Member on 16th January.
§ Mr. O'MALLEYasked the Chief Secretary the names of those estates in Connemara which have been purchased by the Congested Districts Board since the passing of the Land Act of 1909; if he will give the names of the estates likely to be purchased within the next three or six months; and whether, in view of the rents now being paid for uneconomic holdings throughout Connemara and the discontent and impatience of the tenants, he will urge upon the Congested Districts Board the necessity for the early acquisition of estates in that district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have concluded negotiations for the purchase of the greater part of Connemara including the Berridge estate comprising 145,527 acres. They have also purchased the Blake-Foster estate, and that of Colonel Hackett. Negotiations are in progress for the purchase of the estates of the representatives of Christopher St. George, O. B. and M. M. Miller, and G. E. O'Flahertie. Other estates in Connemara will be proceeded with as soon as the arrangements of the Board permit. The Board are most anxious for the early acquisition of all estates in Connemara.