§ MR. MACALEESEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, how many representations under the Labourers' Cottages (Ireland) Act have been made to the Monaghan Board of Guardians since the Act came into operation, and how many cottages, if any, have been erected in Monaghan Union under the Labourers Act; have any reports been received from any medical officer of the union as to the necessity for the better housing of labourers in certain electoral districts of the union; and, if so, will he recommend the guardians to give effect to such reports?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOUROne representation has been received by the Monaghan Guardians since the end of 1893, at which time 12 such representations had been submitted. No cottages have been erected in this union under the Labourers Acts. A Report from one of the medical officers was made in March 1894, as to the condition of the houses in one of the electoral divisions of the union, and it appears from the Report that the dwellings with three exceptions were in good order. In two of these cases the landlord promised to execute necessasy repairs. If further representations are now lodged and rejected by the Guardians, and should the parties making them appeal to the Local Government Board, the matter will be duly considered.