§ MR. SHEEHAN (Cork County, Mid.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in pursuance of Section 7 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1891, improvement schemes have been formulated by any sanitary authority for the purpose of providing suitable dwellings for agricultural labourers in villages or towns without garden allotments; and if so, will he state the sanitary authority or authorities which have given effect to this section, and the number of cottages erected in Ireland in accordance with its provisions.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) Proposals of the nature indicated are merged in schemes to meet the general needs of the labourers in a rural district, and it would be impossible for the Local Government Board to give definite information ad to the particular councils which have availed themselves of the statutory provision referred to, and the extent to which they have done so, without making an elaborate investigation into all the schemes submitted since 1891. The Board, however, are in a position to state generally that the section has not been put into operation to any considerable extent, owing no doubt to the advantages of building the cottages which may be required in the vicinity of the villages or towns rather than actually in them. The tenants can in that event be provided with gardens, and are brought nearer to their probable sphere of employment.