HC Deb 08 May 1894 vol 24 cc585-6
MR. KENNEDY (Kildare, N.)

I beg-to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board are aware that over two years ago in the Edenderry Union Richard M'Namara, labourer, of Balrinnet, lodged a representation form under the Labourers' Acts, his own dwelling being condemned by the medical officer as unsanitary: that in view of the wretched house in which M'Namara lived, a local gentleman, Mr. Edward Robinson, voluntarily granted a site for his proposed cottage, notwithstanding that he (Mr. Robinson) had already 20 labourers living on his farm; that some weeks ago, on the completion of the cottage built by the Edenderry Board of Guardians on M'Namara's representation, the latter attended at the Board room to ask for possession, but was refused, and on the motion of Mr. W. Tyrell, J.P., possession was granted to a workman of his who had already a good house, though Mr. Tyrell had given no sites for labourers' cottages on his own farm; and whether the Local Government Board will direct the Edenderry Board of Guardians to at once transfer the cottage to M'Namara, and remedy the breach of the Labourers' Acts, 48 & 49 Vic. 3. 77, s. 17, caused by the latter living in a condemned dwelling-house after the Guardians were in a position to supply house accommodation for him?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY, Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

The facts are stated with substantial accuracy in the first paragraph. Section 17 of the Act of 1885, which is alluded to in the question, prescribes that when the Guardians are in a position to supply house accommodation to the occupants of condemned dwellings they should take steps to have the old houses closed or demolished, and unless the new houses are let to the occupants of the unfit houses the object of the Acts in this respect would be defeated. In this instance, however, the majority of the Guardians are opposed to giving the cottage to M'Namara, and the Local Government Board have no power to transfer the cottage to him as asked. A man named Boyle who was selected by the Guardians has, as a matter of fact, signed the usual agreement of tenancy and entered into possession of the promises.

MR. KENNEDY

Is there any means of compelling this Conservative Board of Guardians to carry out the spirit of the Act?

MR. J. MORLEY

No. The Local Government Board have no power to override the decision of the Board of Guardians in this matter.