§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, two years since, representations signed by twelve of the highest ratepayers in the Clogher Union were made to the Clogher District Council to have labourers' cottages erected in that union; that the consideration of these representations came before the Clogher Council several times; that the council declined to put the Acts into 1252 force, basing their action on a report of a relieving officer; and that the Local Government Board has been requested to hold a public inquiry; and, if so, will he explain why the inquiry has not been held; and what steps the Local Government Board propose to take so as to make the Labourers Acts operative in the Clogher Union.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe facts generally are as stated, but no formal application for an inquiry in accordance with Section 4 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1891, has been received by the Local Government Board. Apart, however, from this consideration, the Board deem it advisable, in view of pending legislation, to defer taking action in the matter. One of the clauses of the Labourers Bill now before Parliament, if passed, will enable the Board to deal more effectively with cases in which the local authorities refuse to put the Acts into operation.