§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Cork County, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the month of May, 1899, representations were forwarded to the Letterkenny District Council on behalf of fifteen labourers residing in that district; that the district council decided not to formulate a scheme, and that an appeal from that decision, as provided by Section 4 of the 1891 Act, was forwarded to the Local Government Board; that nothing was done in the matter by the said Board; that subsequently other representations were forwarded to said district council, and acted upon by them; that at an inquiry held with reference to the latter representations, evidence was produced before Mr. Kelly, Local Government inspector, to the effect that the district council had shelved the representations lodged with them in May, 1899; that Mr. Kelly stated that the scheme then before him was inadequate; and that he 67 reported accordingly to the Local Government Board; and whether the Local Government Board will order an inquiry by their inspector into the representations lodged in May, 1899, and order the district council to promulgate a scheme which will include cottages for those labourers whose representations are so long pending.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe facts are generally as stated. It appears that the district council received representations for the erection of twenty-four labourers' cottages, but they decided to make a scheme for eleven only, as that was the number of applicants' dwellings which the medical officer of health actually condemned as unfit for human habitation. The scheme so made is being confirmed by Provisional Order, and it appears from recent minutes of the district council that they are considering further representations with the view of making a supplemental scheme. The effect of an inquiry such as that asked for would be to coerce the council to act on particular applications, but as that body seems to be exercising a reasonable discretion in the matter, the Board do not think there is any cause for interference on their part.
§ MR. O'DOHERTYWhat was the reason for the rejection of the scheme?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe district council put forward a scheme affecting a number of houses which had been condemned by the medical officer. They are now considering a further scheme, and under those circumstances I see no reason for interference on the part of the Local Government Board.