lease into a freehold interest, most recently under Acts of 1978 and 2005. Notably, ground rents in Castlebar, County Mayo have been withheld following the controversial disappearance of Lord Lucan in 1974. Paying ground rents is still considered by some to be an unresolved part of Ireland's history as a part of the United Kingdom; the Irish Government itself pays ground rents for iconic public buildings, including Government Buildings, the Four Courts, Dublin Castle and the Botanic Gardens. While the individual cost of each is relatively small, given inflation, an estimated 250,000 ground rents still exist in Ireland, with the state annually paying for example to the Duke of Leinster for some buildings. Brian Hayes, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works in 2011, stated that a referendum would be required to put the practice to an end. Residents of Hayes' own constituency continue to be issued demands for payment, with many ignoring them, though given that outstanding liabilities of ground rent hinder residents' ability to sell their homes, about 1,600 applications per annum are made to buy out ground rents every year. Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act, 2009 After years of debate, the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act, 2009 comprehensively reformed the law of conveyancing, mortgages, registration of and claims to title, rights of way and easements in the Republic of Ireland. Some little-used interests relating to feudal tenure, life interests, leases for lives and fee tails were formally abolished. Northern Ireland The UK Parliament at Westminster passed further Land Acts for Northern Ireland after the Partition of Ireland, such as the Northern Ireland Land Act 1925, the Northern Ireland Land Act 1929 and the Northern Ireland Land Purchase (Winding Up) Act 1935. The Parliament of Northern Ireland passed the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970. See also Land reforms by country Landlord and Tenant Law Amendment (Ireland) Act 1860 Assignment and Sub-letting of Land (Ireland) Act 1826 Notes Primary sources Further reading Bew, Paul. Land and the national question in Ireland 1858-82 (Dublin 1978). Bew, Paul. Conflict and conciliation in Ireland 1890-1910: Parnellities and radical agrarians (Oxford, 1987). Campbell, Fergus. "Irish popular politics and the making of the Wyndham Land Act, 1901–1903." The Historical Journal 45.4 (2002): 755-773. Campbell, Fergus. "Irish popular politics and the making of the Wyndham Land Act, 1901–1903." Historical Journal 45.4 (2002): 755-773. Cosgrove, Patrick John. "The Wyndham Land Act,