§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board have decided to give possession to Mr. James Coward of 200 acres of land at Knockadorahy, on the late Clanmorris estate, county Mayo; whether Mr. Cowan was at any time a tenant of such lands or had any legal claim to them; and whether the lands are required for the relief of congestion in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMr. James Cowan surrendered a holding of 137 acres in the townland of Graddogue, which he held as tenant on the Clanmorris estate, county Mayo, acquired by the Estates Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and received an equivalent holding in the townland referred to in the question. Mr. Cowan signed an undertaking for the purchase of the latter holding, and it was vested in him under the Land Purchase Acts in October, 1907. The lands surrendered by Mr. Cowan have been utilised in the provision of a holding for an evicted tenant, and the enlargement of six small holdings.
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§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board intend to distribute among the occupiers of uneconomic holdings in the district the large tracts of land now held as eleven-months' tenants by Mr. James Cowan and Mr. Richard Sweeney, in Knockroe and Burriell, county Mayo, on the estate purchased from Mrs. Stock; and whether these lands, comprising about 700 acres, are required for the relief of congestion in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe question of resuming possession of the lands referred to, comprising about 500 acres, and at present in the occupation of Mr. James Cowan and Mr. Richard Sweeney, on the estate purchased from Mrs. Stock, has not yet been considered by the Congested Districts Board.