§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, as the result of a scheme for the erection of six labourers' cottages, under the Act of last year, in the elec- 621 toral division of Ballyruskin, union of Ennistymon, county Clare, the Local Government Board, after inspection, sanctioned two, and whether nothing has since been done in respect to those two except the transmission by the Local Government Board of a bill of costs of over £20, or over £10 each cottage, to be levied on the electoral division; and, whether, with a view to facilitate the working of the Act, the Government will cause the cost of Local Government Board inquiries to be brought down to a more moderate figure?
MR. CAMPBELL-BANNEBMANThe result of the inquiry held as required by the Act showed that three out of the five proposed sites were objectionable. The Local Government Board were prepared to proceed with regard to the remaining two; but the Guardians requested them to postpone action pending anticipated legislation. As regards the costs of advertising and services of a reporter incidental to the local inquiry, the Local Government Board are bound to recover the amount, the sums paid being merely advanced by them for the Guardians' convenience. The shorthand writer is paid at a scale fixed by the Treasury. The expenses of the Inspector who conducts the inquiry are not charged to the Union.