HC Deb 28 March 1892 vol 3 cc17-8
MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether representations from ratepayers of the Borris in Ossory and Moneenalassa electoral divisions of the Roscrea Union for the erection of labourers' cottages were lodged as far back as December, 1888; whether any of these cottages have yet been built; whether the Guardians have even yet obtained possession of the plots of land for their erection; whether the Board of Works required a sum of £30 to be lodged before the Government arbitrator was allowed to proceed with the valuation of three half-acre plots; and whether any of this money has been returned to the Roscrea Board, or any account furnished of its disbursement?

* MR. JACKSON

The proposal to provide labourers' cottages in the case mentioned was first submitted to the Local Government Board in December, 1889, and was duly sanctioned under a Provisional Order. The information before me does not show whether the Guardians have yet obtained possession of the land. The Board of Works did obtain the deposit mentioned. They have not yet accounted with the Guardians, as they are awaiting the furnishing by the Arbitrator of his bill of costs.

MR. A. O'CONNOR

Will the Board of Works continue to exact the heavy deposit of £10 in each case, seeing that very often the purchase money does not exceed that?

MR. JACKSON

That is rather a question for the Secretary to the Treasury.

MR. A. O'CONNOR

The right hon. Gentleman may recollect that when he filled the office of Secretary to the Treasury he offered to look into this matter.

MR. JACKSON

I did make inquiry when I was in Dublin, when, if I remember aright, the question was the provision of labourers' cottages in a Union in the South of Ireland. The suggestion made was whether a local valuer could not be employed instead of sending down an officer from Dublin. I made inquiries, and I was then told that it was very difficult to arrange that, because in many of these cases it was very difficult to find a local valuer not in some way connected with the matter. The object, of course, is by inquiry to obtain an independent opinion. I did make the suggestion to the Board of Works that they should try and limit the amount of the deposit to what would be a fair amount of the charge.

MR. A. O'CONNOR

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the unexpended balance is returned to the Guardians?

MR. JACKSON

That is rather a question for the Treasury.