§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary what the Estates Commissioners have done towards acquiring for distribution among landless and congested people the lands of Kilmore, Streete, Westmeath, which the owner, Colonel Kavanagh, and the tenant have expressed their willingness to sell for this purpose; what the area of the land in question is; and whether there is any prospect of its being acquired and distributed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the lands referred to are tenanted lands held subject to a second term judicial rent. They comprise 450 acres, and the Commissioners decided, after inspection, that they could not, having regard to the prices which the owner and tenant require for their respective interest, advance to the owner a sum under the Land Purchase Acts sufficient to enable him to acquire the tenant's interest and to sell the lands to the Commissioners as untenanted land for the purposes of distribution. Proceedings have not been instituted for the sale of the lands to the Commissioners, and they have not taken any further action in the matter.
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§ Mr. GINNELLasked what the Estates Commissioners have done towards acquiring for distribution among landless and congested people the lands of Balreagh, Westmeath, which the owner. Mr. R. Smyth, and the tenant, Mr. R. Reynell, have expressed their willingness to sell for this purpose; what the area of the land in question is; and whether there is any prospect of its being acquired and distributed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commismissioners have not taken any action with a view to the acquisition of these lands. They are tenanted lands, and are in the occupation of a judicial tenant named James Taylor, who has acquired the interest of the former tenant, Richard Reynell. The lands comprise 347 acres, and if the owner is willing to sell the lands to the Commissioners as untenanted land for the purposes of distribution in accordance with the provisions of the Land Purchase Acts, he will first have to acquire the tenant's interest, and then institute proceedings under those Acts for the sale of the lands to the Commissioners freed and discharged from all occupation interests.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked what steps, if any, the Estates Commissioners have taken towards acquiring for distribution among landless and congested people the Coates and Fannon estate, near Castlepollard, which the trustees are willing to sell for this purpose; and whether any practical steps will be taken now to this end?
§ Mr. BIRRELLUp to the present proceedings have not been instituted by the owner for the sale of this estate before the Estates Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts. The Commissioners have not taken any action in the matter, Portion of the lands appear to be in the occupation of tenants. If the owners are willing to sell the lands to the Commissioners for the purposes of distribution in accord ance with the provisions of the Land Purchase Acts the owners will first have to acquire the tenants' interests and then institute proceedings under those Acts for the sale of the lands to the Commissioners freed and discharged from all occupation interests.