§ Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will give the total amount of money lent from Imperial resources; under the various Land Pur- 1579W chase (Ireland) Acts to enable occupiers to become owners of their holdings, together with the rates of interest and sinking fund on these loans to 31st December, 1916, or any other convenient date?
§ Mr. DUKEThe advances for land purchase to the 31st December, 1916, are as follows:
Cash. Stock. £ £ Under the Act of 1870 514,536 — Under the Acts of 1881–85 10,273,280 — Under the Acts of 1891–96 — 13,649,690 Under the Acts of 1903–9 58,614,195 15,891,326 £69,401,961 £29,541,016 Total £98,942,977 The rates of interest and sinking fund are:
Interest. Sinking Fund, Per cent. Per cent. £ s. d. £ s. d. Under the Acts of 1870, 1881–85 3 2 6 0 17 6 Under the Acts of 1891–96 2 15 0 1 5 0 Under the Act of 1903 2 15 0 0 10 0 Under the Act of 1909. 3 0 0 0 10 0
§ Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will give the total amount of cash, or stock in lieu of cash, that has been paid or issued from the Imperial Exchequer to enable Irish occupiers to become owners of their holdings since the outbreak of war to the latest convenient date, and the interest and sinking fund payable on the money so advanced?
§ Mr. DUKEThe advances for land purchase since the outbreak of war to 31st December, 1916, are:
1580W
Total Under the Act of 1903— £ £ Cash 3,490,023 Stock 668,051 4,158,074 Under the Act of 1909— Cash 840,500 Stock 1,585,954 2,426,454 £6,584,528 The rates of interest and sinking fund are:
Interest. Sinking Fund. Per cent. Per cent £ s. d. £ s. d. Under the Act of 1903 2 15 0 0 10 0 Under the Act of 1909 3 0 0 0 10 0 As I have previously stated, in answer to questions, new commitments under the Acts have not been made lately.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on the estate of the representatives of Hubert Dolphin, Turoe, Loughrea, purchased their holdings six years ago; whether the purchase money has been paid over to the trustees of the estate for a number of years back; will he explain how it is that some of the holdings are vested in the tenants while some of the tenants are still paying interest on the purchase money; and whether he will take steps to put an end to this state of things?
§ Mr. DUKEThis estate was purchased by the Estates Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act. 1903, and the purchase money was lodged on the 20th March, 1913. A scheme has been prepared for the improvement of the holdings by rearrangement and enlargement, and the improved holdings will be vested in the purchasers as soon as practicable.