§ MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a copy of the Resolutions passed at a public meeting in Glenbeigh, county Kerry, on 18th November; whether the Congested Districts Board will set to work on improvements on the Winn estate, lately purchased by them, as suggested by the terms of the Resolution; and whether he proposes to give effect to the request that a representative from Kerry shall be placed on the Congested Districts Board.
MR. BRYCEI have received the Resolutions mentioned in the Question and have referred them to the Congested Districts Board, by whom they will be considered at their next meeting. The Winn estate has not yet been vested in the Board, and the Board are, therefore, not yet in a position to alter the boundaries of holdings or effect large improvement works, but the necessary works on the estate will be commenced as soon as the estate is vested. The Board's funds are not applicable to the relief of temporary distress by the undertaking of relief works, as suggested in the Resolutions. I may, however, say that the Government are carefully watching the condition of the county. The Resolutions passed at Glenbeigh did not ask for the appointment of a representative from Kerry on the Congested Districts Board, but a Resolution has been received from the Kerry County Council making that request. There is, however, no vacancy on the Board.