§ MR. J. A. RENTOUL (Down, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland will he explain on what grounds the Local Government Board have sanctioned the erection of two labourers' cottages on the farm of John Finlay, Tulleyrap, in the union of Strabane, although there are already four cottier tenants living in houses on Mr. Finlay's farms, and eight farms all situated within half a mile of Mr. Finlay's farm, several of them as large as his, upon the whole of which there is a single labourer's dwelling, though there are empty labourers' houses upon four of these farms?
MR. J. MORLEYNo scheme for the erection of labourers' cottages in the townland mentioned has yet been sanctioned by the Local Government Board. An Inspector of the Board has, however, been appointed to carry out the Acts in the Union (the Guardians having declined to do so), and I understand he contemplates making a Scheme for the erection of 13 cottages in five electoral divisions. Two of the proposed cottages are intended to be built in the townland mentioned; but before the erection of any of them can be sanctioned by the Local Government Board there must be a Local Inquiry held in the matter by another Inspector, at which all the owners and occupiers of lands proposed to be acquired will have an opportunity of offering objections to the Scheme. Of course, for any lands that may be ultimately taken, the persons interested will receive compensation, the amount of which, in case of disagreement, will be determined by an Arbitrator.