§ MR. MEEHAN (Queen's County, Leix)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the settlement of the evicted tenants on the Lansdowne Estates in Luggacurran, Queen's County, the Estates Commissioners entered into a contract for the erection of seven houses for the tenants, that it was a condition in the contract that the houses were to be completed and ready for occupation last December, and is he aware that none of the houses are yet finished, and that very little progress is being made with the work; whether, seeing that under the scheme of settlement other houses were to be built, he can say how many and if any steps have been taken to obtain contracts; if not, will he direct that contracts shall be obtained find the building proceeded with in order that the tenants may get into occupation before winter; and is he aware that one of the tenants has to walk seven miles from his lodging to his farm, and the other tenants in a lesser degree are subject to inconvenience and loss by the delay in having the houses erected.
MR. BRYCEThe Estates Commissioners inform me that it was a condition of the contract that the houses referred to were to be completed in March last. Owing, however, to unforeseen difficulties, the contractor was unable to complete the work within the time limited, but anticipates that it will now shortly be finished. The Commissioners are making preparations for the erection of fifteen other houses on this estate, and they are aware that until the houses are built some temporary inconvenience must necessarily be caused to those for whom the houses are intended. There will be no avoidable delay.