§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board has entered into any negotiations for the purchase of the Hughes estate, at Clonown, near Athlone, in the county of Roscommon; and, if so, whether he will state if the estate is likely soon to be acquired by the Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have communicated with the owner of the estate referred to, but it has not yet been offered for sale through them. The Board cannot say at present whether it is likely to be acquired by them.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners, in March, 1913, received an application from Patrick Kirwen, an evicted tenant on the Drogheda estate, county Kildare, for a farm on land which he then supposed they were about to purchase; whether the Estates Commissioners have not recognised Patrick Kirwen's claim to reinstatement in the evicted farm or to be given another farm; and when the Estates Commissioners will give Kirwen a farm?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received from Patrick Kirwan in March, 1913, a letter directing their attention to a notice which had been published regarding the sale of a holding in county Kildare and asking the Commissioners to acquire same for him. The holding in question had already been sold under the Land Purchase Acts and the Commissioners had no power to make any further advance in respect thereof with a view to its acquisition. The Commissioners have noted Kirwan's name for consideration in the allotment of such untenanted land as they may acquire. They are not at present in a position to say when they may be able to allot him a farm.