§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that on the 2nd of May last a Resolution was carried by the Board making the expenses of the erection a Divisional instead of a Union charge; and, whether the Local Government Board will insist on the Guardians furthering the construction of suitable dwellings for the poor labourers at this the most suitable time of the year for building?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I shall now reply to the Question in the form in which it appeared on yesterday's paper. It is the fact that the erection of 157 cottages has been authorized in the Fermoy Union; 13 cottages, authorized by Provisional Order confirmed by Parliament in 1884, have been built; 144 others were authorized by Provisional Order made in June, 1887; but none of these have 252 yet been built. The latter Order became absolute in October last, and an arbitrator was appointed by the Board of Works in February last; but the arbitration proceedings necessarily took some time. The Board of Guardians originally made the whole Rural Sanitary District the area of charge, and it was accordingly so fixed by the Provisional Order of 1887. Such a resolution as that referred to was passed by the Guardians in May last, but it was inoperative inasmuch as the Guardians have no power to alter an area of charge determined by a Provisional Order which has become absolute. Under the circumstances, the Local Government Board cannot take any steps with the view of compelling the Guardians to hasten their proceedings in the case.