HC Deb 15 June 1917 vol 94 cc1319-20W
Mr. GINNELL

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the average price per acre paid by the Congested Districts Board for land in county Roscommon; what price do the Board now propose to pay to Mr. Conry, a relative for a member of the Board, for the land of Ballinturley, which he recently purchased for £400; whether the prices charged to recipients of allotments increase with the price paid by the Board for the whole; and, seeing that the Board have statutory power to acquire land for its value, whether that will be done in this case?

Mr. DUKE

I assume that the question refers to the average price per aero paid by the Congested Districts Board for the occupation interest of land. This price varies considerably according to the tenure of the occupying tenant. If the holding is held under a future tenancy, the tenant is only entitled to compensation fixed by Statute. In the case of tenancies held subject to judicial rents, the compensation if not arranged voluntarily is fixed by the Land Commission at what they estimate to be its market value. In the case of Mr. Conry, the Board did not make any offer for his interest in the farm, for which he paid £400, but proceedings were taken to have the price fixed by the Land Commission. The case was heard at the Sessions on the 10th ultimo, but the decision has not yet been notified.