§ MR. MICHAEL AUSTIN (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, what is the cause of the delay in the granting of the necessary loan to the Newcastle West Board of Guardians for the building of 24 cottages under a scheme which has taken three years to carry through the various stages; and, will this money be granted, without further delay, 209 to enable the Guardians to build healthy dwellings for the labourers of the district?
§ * MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed by the Board of Works that there has been no avoidable delay in this matter. On the 4th inst., the Guardians, in returning the draft mortgage deed, stated they desired the period of repayment of the loan to be extended to 40 years. The Clerk of the Union was informed that Treasury sanction was necessary for this, and that it had been applied for.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the delay that has occurred has entailed great hardship on these labourers?
§ [No answer was given.]