§ MR. M'GOVERN (Cavan, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that dissatisfaction exists owing to the delay in building labourers' cottages in Cavan Union, and that it is over eighteen months since the inquiry was held; and, if so, can he state the cause of the delay, and what is the present state of the scheme.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The inquiry was held, as stated, more than eighteen months ago. The Board issued an Order in confirmation of portion of the council's improvement scheme on the 17th July last, the unopposed portion of which became absolute on the 30th September, whilst the opposed portion was amended and confirmed by the Order in Council of the 4th March. The cause of the delay in carrying the scheme into execution is the failure of the Rural District Council to furnish the Local Government Board, in correct form and detail, with all the documents which are requisite to enable it to appoint an arbitrator to determine the amounts of purchase money to be paid for the lands authorised to be acquired compulsorily. The Board has repeatedly pressed the council to settle this matter, the last occasion on which it addressed 395 the local authority on the subject being the 6th instant. The execution of the authorised scheme is a duty which devolves upon the Rural District Council.