asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he is aware that a number of tenants on the Wilson property, situate at Drummond, Milltownpass, Mullingar, and at Edmonton, Killucan, Co. Westmeath, who purchased out their holdings under Sections 24 and 35 of the Land Act, 1881, had only two-thirds of the purchase money advanced by the Land Commission, the landlord taking out mortgages for the remaining one-third at 3? per cent.; that the tenants will shortly have the advances made by the Land Commission repaid, whilst the original principal of one-third the landlord's estimated interest in the land over forty years ago still remains due, and whether the Land Commission will take steps to enable the tenants to redeem those charges.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - REDEMPTION OF LAND CHARGES.
Under the Act of 1881, the Land Commission had power to make advances to tenant purchasers, not exceeding three-fourths of the purchase money, repayable by annuity at the rate of 5 per cent for a period of 35 years. Advances were made under that Act to the tenants of the estate referred to on the 6th June and 28th November, 1883. Under Section 4 of the Act of 1885 the annuity rate was reduced to 4 per cent. and the period extended to 49 years, and under Section 25 of the Act of 1896 the annuities were further reduced, and consequently will not redeem the advances until the years 1962 and 1963.
The Land Commission cannot take any steps as regards the mortgages referred to.