§ Mr. O'MALLEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mrs. Brown's estate and Miss Duane's estate, near Letterfrack, Connemara, and the Twining estate at Cleggan, Connemara, have been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, will he state when those estates are likely to be acquired by the Congested Districts Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estates of Miss Duane and Miss Twining have been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, but Mrs. Brown's estate has not yet been offered. The Board are at present unable to say when any of these properties are likely to be acquired.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners are aware of the distinct understanding arrived at as between Viscount Gough, of Lough Cutra Castle, Gort, county Galway, and his tenants in respect to the 598W sale of his lordship's property; is he aware, that everything in reference to the sale of this estate was left by Viscount Gough in the hands of the Estates Commissioners; will he explain how it is that, while the Estates Commissioners fixed the price for the church plot, No. 6a, Kilbecanty, Gort, at £22, Viscount Gough refuses to include this plot in the sale unless and until the parish priest pays over to him a sum of £60 over and above the full price properly determined by the Estates Commissioners; and whether, having regard to the distinct agreement entered into by Viscount Gough with the tenants to leave the question of price in the hands of the Estates Commissioners, he will communicate with the Estates Commissioners and have them to insist upon the honourable performance of the said agreement?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the plot in question contains thirty-three perches. It is not an agricultural holding, and the Commissioners do not consider that it affords security for the repayment of a larger advance than £22, repayable by annuity under the Land Purchase Acts. This sum is only five and a half years' purchase of the rent of £4 a year payable by the Roman Catholic Bishop and the parish priest under a lease of 500 years, dated. 16th March, 1885, and the owner does not consider that this sum represents the full value of his interest in the holding. The Commissioners do not consider the attitude of the owner unreasonable, and if the holding is to be included in the sale, it will be necessary for the parties to agree as to a price, and for the Bishop and the parish priest to lodge in cash the difference between such price and the sum the Commissioners are prepared to advance on the security of the holding under the Land Purchase Acts.
§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked the Chief Secretary whether, notwithstanding that it was not referred to in the Gracious Speech from the Throne, it is intended to introduce and press a Bill for the completion of land purchase in Ireland; and, if so, when does he expect to be in a position to introduce the Bill?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI hope it may be possible to reintroduce the Irish Land Bill of last Session, but it will be impossible to find time for its passage through the House unless the Bill is practically treated as one not involving controversy.