§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners were offered for sale the estate of R. Hope, situate at Loughbawn, near Oldcastle, county Meath; and, if so, will he state how far the negotiations have progressed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe tenanted portion of this estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Land Purchase Acts, and the owner has intimated his willingness to sell to the Estates Commissioners some 400 acres of untenanted land situated in the townland of Ballinlough at their estimated price.
Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary why two tenants, Messrs. Torpey and McGuane, were passed over in the redivision of the Nagle estate, county Clare?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that Torpey and McGuane refused to agree to the Commissioners' proposals, which involved the rearrangement of their existing holdings, and the Commissioners have decided not to give them any portion of the untenanted land.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the average price paid in years' purchase, giving the highest and lowest number of years' purchase paid in the case of estates sold in county Cavan prior to August, 1903, and since that date?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 28th April last, and to the detailed tables appended to the last Annual Reports of the Irish Land Commission, and of the Estates Commissioners. The Estates Commissioners could not give the information asked for in the last portion of the question without a detailed examination of the figures connected with each estate.
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§ sir THOMAS ESMONDEasked the Chief Secretary what steps the Estates. Commissioners propose to take with reference to the roadway and fencing promised to Mr. James Middleton, of Camolin Park, county Wexford; and how much of the-money charged on his holding has been spent in fencing and road-making?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe amount sanctioned by the Estates Commissioners has been expended, and they are not prepared to sanction any further expenditure in this case.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary whether, in reference to the Reeves estate, West Clare, all the arrangements: are completed as affecting the townlands, of Donogrogue, Poulnodance, and Tiervarna; and whether, in that case, the tenants in these townlands will now receive vesting orders?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that the sale prices of the holdings of the tenants on the town-lands referred to have been fixed, and they will be asked to sign their sale agreements as soon as practicable. It is not possible at present to say when the holdings will be vested in the tenants.