§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners' inspector who inspected the Dundrum estate of the Marquess of Downshire, E. C. No. 3,796, made any report as to the future upkeep of the drain and culvert constructed and heretofore maintained at considerable expense by the vendor, the maintenance of which is necessary to the holdings of Patrick M'Clinton, or M'Clymont, and other tenants, lands of Aughlisnafin, county Down; and if the prices the inspector reported as fair and equitable assumed the future maintenance of these works by the purchasing tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the drain and culvert referred to were examined by the inspector who visited this estate, and in estimating the sums which might be advanced under the Land Purchase Acts he had regard to the fact that when the lands are vested in the occupiers they will as owners be liable for the upkeep and maintenance of the drain and culvert.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary what price the Estates Commissioners' inspector reported as fair and equitable to be paid by the following tenants on the estate of the Marquess of Downshire, county Down, E. C. No. 3,796, who had refused to purchase at 4s. in the £ or 20 per cent. reduction, and what reduction in the £ or percentage of reduction the inspector's price would give these tenants if they now executed purchase agreements thereat: Peter M'Cann, Magherasaul, judicial rent £23 6s. 6d.; Ellen Byrne, Waterwek, judicial rent £11 18s.; William M'Mullan, senior, Moneycarragh, judicial rent £18 1s.; and James Dumigan, representative of Hugh Dumigan, Moneylane, judicial rent £13 2s. 6d.?
1877W
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe tenants referred to, namely, Peter M'Cann, Ellen Byrne, William M'Mullan, and the representatives of Hugh Dumigan, did not sign agreements at the prices offered by the vendor, which prices would have been at 3¼ per cent. annuities under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Estates Commissioners at his request after inspection fixed the prices in these cases as follows:—£574, £293, £450, and £323. In fixing these prices regard was had to the fact that the annuities would now be at 3½ per cent. under the Trish Land Act, 1909, and the percentage of reduction represented by such annuities as approximately 14 per cent. in the cases of Peter M'Cann, Ellen Byrne, and the representatives of Hugh Dumigan, and 13 per cent. in the case of William M'Mullan, and the purchase money will be payable in Guaranteed Three per Cent. Stock and not in cash, as would have been the case had agreements been lodged under the Irish Land Act, 1903.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary what action has been taken in reference to the application of Thomas Stack, a blacksmith at present living in Ballybunion, who is an evicted tenant on the Miss Browne property at Cahirciveen, Listowel; whether his case has been inquired into; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that Stack's application was not received within the period limited by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and could not be dealt with under that Act. It will be inquired into when the estate, on which his former holding is situate, is the subject of proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary when the agreements signed by the tenants in the townlands of Clashmealcon, Ardoughter, and Clahane, on the Charles Day property, were lodged with the Estates Commissioners; whether this property has yet been inspected; and, in view of the tenants paying 4 per cent. on the purchase money, if an early completion of the sale will take place so as to reduce the present interest paid by the tenants to the landlord?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The purchase agreements were lodged in August, 1908, and the tenants contracted in their agreements to pay interest in lieu of rent at the rate of 3¾ per1878W cent. on the advance applied for until date of vesting. The estate will be dealt with in order of priority on the principal register of direct sales, but, having regard to the claims of other estates, the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached. The Commissioners have no power to deal with the estate until it is so reached.
§ Mr. HAZLETONasked the Chief Secretary whether, on the Captain Henry estate, county Galway, divided by the Estates Commissioners in 1905, the Commissioners intend to finish the road that they marked out from Pollacapul to Kilmore, on the estate; and whether, if this road is not finished, the only means of access for over thirty small holders to the turf they require is by trespassing on other property?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners sanctioned an expenditure of some £240 in connection with the roads on this estate and they cannot sanction any further amount. All the money granted by the Commissioners for improvements on this estate, including roads, has been spent, and the holdings were vested in the purchasing tenants five years ago.