§ MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state how many labourers' cottages 569 have been erected, or are in course of erection, in the Mountmellick Union; how long is it since those now in course of erection were first applied for by the labourers and ratepayers; what has been the entire expense of the working of the Labourers' Acts in the Union since 1883, and how much has been paid in law costs and for fees to Clerks of Works; whether there are any actions pending against the Guardians in connection with the working of the Act; if so, by whom, and for what amounts?
§ MR. MADDEN(who replied) said: The Local Government Board state that they have received a Report from the Clerk of the Mountmellick Union, from which it appears that there are 24 cottages erected and ten in course of erection. (2.) It is over six years since the latter were first applied for by the labourers and ratepayers. (3.) The entire expenses of the working of the Labourers' Acts in the Union from 1883 to the present date is £5,162, of which £652 has been paid in law costs and £103 for fees to Clerks of Works. There are two actions pending against the Guardians in connection with the working of the Acts—namely. one by Clerk of Works for £416 18s. 9d. and the other by a contractor for £94 5s. There was also a decree given against the Guardians at the Quarter Sessions at Maryborough on Friday last for £8 and costs for damage to a young horse by a barbed wire fence inclosing one of the labourers' plots.