SIR T. G. ESMONDS (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the Government has received any representations upon the subject of establishing relief works in West Kerry to meet the distress prevailing there; and whether it is proposed to take any steps in the matter?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Guardians of Tralee, Caherciveen, and Listowel Unions have passed a number of resolutions asking that loans may be made to small farmers for improving their lands, and that employment on relief works may be afforded to labourers and others. The construction of a light railway from Tarbert to Bally-longford has also been advocated as a relief work. The numbers in receipt of relief in Caherciveen and Listowel Unions are less than at the corresponding period of last year, while in Tralee the numbers in the workhousehavedecreased, but the numbers on outdoor relief have increased. The Relieving Officers have funds for affording relief in cases of urgent necessity; but at present it does not appear that there is general distress among the landholders of such a character as to warrant the opening of relief works.