§ MR. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to a resolution recently passed by the Wexford District Council calling attention to the fact that £59,000 was granted in 1891 to encourage the building of labourers' cottages, and pointing out that a large residue remains, as twelve counties did not avail themselves of the grant; and whether he will consider the advisability of dividing the residue between the counties that have built cottages, giving special consideration to counties that had worked the Labourers Act previous to 1891.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The unexpended balance of the grant in aid of labourers' cottages provided by section D of the 54 and 55 Viet., cap. 48, amounted to £58,942 on the 31st March, 1902. The share of each county in this fund is prescribed by statutory regulations made by the Lord Lieutenant, and could not be diverted in the manner suggested except by an amendment of the law.