§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the owner of the Morrow estate, situate in Ballintogher West Division, Sligo Union, to whom an offer for purchase was recently made by the Congested Districts Board, has recently sold the Ardnisbrack grazing ranch, which forms portion of that estate, to a non-residential grazier named Layng, who already owns a number of farms in the Tubbercurry Union; and, if so whether public money will be advanced to enable this man to purchase a farm eminently suitable for the relief of congestion in a congested district, or whether the Congested Districts Board can yet interfere in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe farm referred to is situate on the estate of Captain Cooper, which is the subject of direct sale proceedings before the Estates Commissioners under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and Benjamin Morrow, as tenant of the 45W farm, has signed an agreement to purchase it. The Cooper estate has not yet been reached in order of priority to be dealt with by the Commissioners, and they have no information as regards any sale by Morrow of his interest in the farm, The Congested Districts Board do not propose to take any action in the matter, as neither the Morrow estate nor the farm referred to has been acquired by them.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Hewitson estate, situate in Ballintogher West Division, Sligo Union, has been purchased by the Estates Commissioners, and that, owing to a memorial sent them by the tenants on the Killross estate praying for a division of the non-residential grazing farm of Killross amongst them for the enlargement of uneconomic holdings, this farm was inspected by the Commissioners' officials; and, if so, can he say whether a purchase price was offered or state what steps the Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board now propose to take in regard to the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate has not been purchased by the Estates Commissioners or Congested Districts Board. It is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the parties have signed purchase agreements at prices agreed on between them. The Commissioners had an inspection made of the holding referred to in the memorial with a view to estimating the sum which could be advanced for its purchase if sold to them as untenanted land, free and discharged from the existing tenancy, and they decided that they could not advance under the Land Purchase Acts for its purchase as untenanted land a sum sufficient to purchase the landlord's interest and also give the tenant the price he requires for his interest.
§ Mr. REDDYasked the Chief Secretary when agreements for purchase were lodged in the Clontygluss estate of A. H. W. Longworth, and also the estate of School-lands, Ballinacurra King's County; will the Commissioners state the reason for the delay in not having vesting orders issued; and if they will be issued this year?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate of A. H. D. Longworth, King's County, is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owners to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The purchase agreements were lodged in March, 1908, and the estate has46W not yet been reached in order of priority to be dealt with on the principal register of direct sales (all cash). Having regard to the claims of other estates, the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners are making an advance to the Knight of Glin to enable him to become the purchaser of his own demesne; and, if so, whether such purchase includes the holding from which Michael J. Dore was evicted in 1908, which holding has since formed an adjunct to the said demesne?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply to both paragraphs of the question is in the negative.