§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the damage caused by the recent floods to the holding of Miss Norah Breen, Lyreboy, Beaufort, county Kerry, on the Drummond estate, of which Mr. Jeremiah Breen, B.D.C., is the present tenant, the Irish Land Commission will hold an inspection as to the damage caused to the land and to the stock, and as to whether payment of the land purchase instalment can be fairly postponed?
§ Mr. DUKEThis estate is the subject of direct sale proceedings for sale by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, but has not yet been reached in its order of priority to be1264W dealt with by the Estates Commissioners, and at this stage of the proceedings the question of flooding is one for the parties. In the purchase agreements signed by the parties the purchasing tenants contracted to pay interest on the agreed prices which gives them a considerable reduction in the rents for which they would otherwise be liable, and the Land Commission are under statutory obligations to collect such interest and pay it over to the vendor until the purchase money is advanced.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the damage caused by floods to the holding of Mr. Jeremiah O'Connor, Coolroe, Beaufort, county Kerry, on the McGillicuddy estate; that, owing to the river having changed its course, he is in imminent danger of having his house, hay, and oats swept away; and whether the Land Comission will send an inspector to investigate the extent of damage caused, seeing that the holding has been purchased?
§ Mr. DUKEJeremiah O'Connor has signed an agreement for the purchase of his holding from the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903, but the lands have not yet been vested in the tenant. Before advancing the purchase money the Estates Commissioners will have regard to any permanent damage caused to the holding, but at the present stage of the proceedings for sale the matter is one for the parties.