§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board have refused to sanction the appointment of Mr. Flanagan as engineer and architect to the Corofin District Council; and, if so, if he will state the reason for this action.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Local Government Board have been unable to sanction the appointment of Mr. Flanagan as engineer and architect to the Corofin Board of Guardians, upon the ground that he has not been shown to be qualified for the position. Mr. Flanagan appears to have had experience as an overseer of roads, but no evidence is forthcoming to show that he possesses any qualifications in the matter of land surveying, mapping, and building works. Mr. Flanagan's appointment as engineer to the district council has not yet been reported to the Local Government Board. In view of the expected building of a large number of new cottages under the Labourers Bill, when it passes into law, it becomes specially important to secure that the architects of local bodies shall prove that they possess, technical skill and experience.