I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say on what grounds the Estates Commissioners have decided not to take any action in reference to the case of the representatives of Mr. Cowhey, deceased, late of Ballinaguile, Croagh, in the county of Limerick, evicted tenant on the De Burge Bateson estate: and whether, having regard to the fact that there are five boys and two girls of deceased, unmarried, living on the home farm of 100 acres, he will take steps to see that their case is dealt with on its merits, so that some untenanted land on the Dickson Power estate may be given to one of them.
The Estates Commissioners have decided to take no special action in this case because the holding in which reinstatement is sought has been sold under the Land Purchase Acts to the occupying tenant, and the applicants are already in possession of a farm of 100 acres. Moreover, the applicants father is stated to have surrendered the holding from which the applicants allege he was evicted. If, however, the Commissioners should acquire the Dickson Power estate they will be prepared to consider any fresh application which may be made to them. I have no power to direct the Commissioners in the matter.