§ MR. RONAYNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether it is the fact that the Board of Works (Ireland) can only lend corporate bodies one-half the amount they may require for the erection or improvement of dwellings for the working classes, and that corporate bodies can only levy a rate for the moiety so lent, and are therefore unable to avail themselves of Loans for such purposes; and, whether he will, in the Public Health Bill or otherwise, provide for this difficulty by enabling the Board of Works to lend the whole amount, and by giving corporate bodies power to levy rates to pay the interest thereon?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, it was a fact that the Board of Works could only lend to corporate bodies in Ireland one half of the amount they might require for the erection of improved dwellings for the working classes, and, unless the corporate bodies were possessed of landed property sufficient to secure the other half, a rate levied under the Act was the only fund available for the repayment of the Loan. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, he must remark that the matter was one rather for the consideration of the Treasury than of the Irish Government; but if the hon. Member liked to propose a clause for insertion in the Public Health Bill, he should then be prepared to announce the intentions of the Government on the question.