§ SIR T. ESMONDE (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if, in view of the acute distress prevailing in many parts of Ireland, the Government will consider the question of granting loans to landlords and occupiers upon the same terms as loans were granted in 1881, and for the same purposes.
MR. J. MORLEYThe question of granting loans in connection with, and as a means of alleviating, the distress existing in parts of Ireland, has been carefully considered by the Irish Government, and it has been decided that such a policy would be of doubtful benefit to the classes who are in want of employment, and would be open to other and obvious objections, some of which I pointed out in the course of the Debate on the Address, when the subject of distress was under discussion. I may point out that under the provisions of the 10th Vic., cap. 32, and the Land Law Act of 1881, large advances have been made to both owners and occupiers for land improvements, and that in the opinion of the Irish Government the provisions of these Acts, which are still operative, fully meet the cases of persons who require loans for such purposes.
§ SIR T. ESMONDEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if any representations have reached him from the Killorglin district of county Kerry relative to the distress prevailing there; and, whether, with a view of giving temporary employment in the locality, one of the most congested in the county, and averting starvation in many families, he will consider the question of immediately finishing the Glasha and Knocknaboola roads, already begun by the Board of Works, so that they may be fit for traffic by the end of April?
MR. J. MORLEYRepresentations to the effect stated in the first paragraph have been received. Very careful inquiries have been made into the condition of this district, and the Local Government Board do not think that, at present, any necessity exists for adopting exceptional measures to relieve distress. The outdoor relief is normal, no fresh applications have, recently been made to the relieving officer, who reports favourably as to the condition of the 379 people. Potatoes at the last market in Killorglin were plentiful, the price ranging from 4d. to 4½,d. per stone. The people appear to be now all engaged on the spring work, which, it is stated, is going on well since the change of weather.
§ MR. J. P. GILHOOLY (Cork, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to tin Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the destitution prevailing in the union of Castletown Beerhaven, county Cork, and whether he intends taking steps to alleviate it The hon. Member further asked the right hon. Gentleman whether the permission of the trustees of the Bantry estate had yet been obtained for the erection of the boat-slip at Trafrask.
MR. J. MORLEYThe Local Government Board state that, so far as they have been able to ascertain, there is not at present any unusual destitution in this Union; that the fishing has been good, and with improved weather will be a great source of income to the people. The stoppage of the work on the boat-slip at Trafrask has caused some hardship to a number of families in that locality, but I was informed this morning by the Congested District Board that the permission of the trustees has now been obtained for the erection of the slip, and that directions have been given for the recommencement of work without delay.