§ Mr. F. MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that on the Wynne estate, Ballaghameehan, county Leitrim, which has been sold to the tenants, there are a number of tenants still deprived of the benefits of purchase; and whether, before this estate is vested, the Estates Commissioners will consider the claims of those tenants?
§ Mr. DUKEThe estate referred to is the subject of proceedings for sale by the owner direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Acts, and purchase agreements at prices agreed upon between the parties have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners. In the case of twelve tenants who have refused to sign purchase agreements, the owner's solicitors have been requested to lodge purchase agreements.
967W
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the untenanted farm of Carrow, on the Clonbrock estate, Mullagh, Loughrea, adjoins a number of small tenants who have been hoping for years to have their holdings enlarged out of this farm, and has been in the hands of the Estates Commissioners for some considerable time past; is he aware that part of the estate was transferred by the Estates Commissioners to the Congested Districts Board and disposed of by the Congested Districts Board within a reasonable time; and will he explain how it is that the Estates Commissioners retain this estate in their possession without preparing a scheme for its distribution?
§ Mr. DUKESixty-six acres of the lands of Carra acquired by the Estates Commissioners on the Clonbrock estate have been utilised to enlarge holdings on the estates of James Smyth purchased by the Congested Districts Board, and the Board has made available lands of equivalent value on the Smyth estate to enlarge small holdings on the Clonbrock estate. Both sets of allottees have been placed in occupation of the parcels of land allotted to them. A scheme for the allotment of the residue of the lands of. Carra involves migration and the erection of houses, etc., and the Commissioners are not at present in a position to undertake the work. It will be commenced as soon as practicable, and meanwhile the Commissioners are arranging to take in the occupier's cattle in the neighbourhood at reasonable rates.
Mr. COSGRAVEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board have yet come to terms with Edward Horseman as to the surrender to them of his interest in the outside farm which he holds at Meelick, county Galway, late Clanricarde estate; and, if negotiations for the voluntary surrender of the farm have failed, will the Board take proceedings to acquire the farm compulsorily, and, if so, when?
§ Mr. DUKEI am informed that the Congested Districts Board have not yet come to terms with Edward Horseman for the surrender of his interest in the farm which he holds on the Clanricarde estate. Negotiations for a voluntary settlement have not yet been withdrawn
Mr. COSGRAVEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board have issued 968W processes against a number of tenants on the Comyn estate, county Galway; that the tenants' refusal to pay their rent was due to the neglect of the Board to acquire for distribution amongst the uneconomic holders on this estate 170 acres of untenanted land at present in the possession of graziers; whether this estate is yet vested in the Board, and, if not, can he state when it was purchased, and what is the cause of the delay in obtaining the vesting order; and why were the poor people processed to Gort Quarter Sessions, a distance of twenty miles, and not to Ballinasloe, which is only four miles from their homes?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Congested Districts Board were obliged to issue processes against a number of tenants on the Comyn estate, county Galway, because they refused to pay the rents due. There are no grounds for the allegation that the Board neglected to acquire 170 acres of untenanted land for distribution. There is no untenanted land on the estate, nor are there any lands held under grazing tenancies. There are some non-residential holdings held under judicial rents, which the Board decided must be taken up for the relief of congestion on the estate, but the Board cannot take legal proceedings to resume possession until the estate is vested in them. Delay has occurred owing to the death of one of the vendors.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it has been brought to his notice that the tenants on the Middleton estate, near Rosses Point, Sligo, have applied to their landlord for enlargement of their holdings and, alternatively, for the use of some of the vacant land of Bowmore for conacre purposes; whether he is aware that he has refused; and whether he will take any. and what, steps to have this grievance redressed?
§ Mr. DUKEI am informed that about four years ago the tenants on the Middle-ton estate approached the landlords with a view to the purchase of their holdings and the sale of the lands of Bowmore for division among small holders, but the negotiations fell through. The tenants have not since applied to the landlords or their agent for enlargement of the holdings nor for the use of the Bowmore lands for conacre.
§ Mr. F. MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the date when the purchase agreements of the 969W tenants on the estate of Mr. H. J. B. Clements, at Manorhamilton, were lodged with the Estates Commissioners, and when the estate will be vested; and what has been the cause of the delay in completing the sale?
§ Mr. DUKEThe purchase agreements in the case of this estate were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in June, 1906. The estate has been inspected and the holdings will be vested in the purchasing tenants as soon as the Commissioners' requirements as to allotment of turbary and cither matters have been satisfied.