§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that no provisions exist in the case of labourers living in an urban district for getting cottages built in the rural district; and whether any rule can be made which will facilitate the extension of the Act of 1906 to such cases.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (MR. Cherry,) Liverpool, ExchangeThe councils of urban districts are themselves empowered to provide cottages under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts. If cottages were provided by the council of a rural district for the accommodation of labourers living in an urban district, the ratepayers of the rural and not the urban district would have to bear the entire cost. No rule could, therefore, in my opinion, justly be made, such as the hon. Member suggests.
§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)Will the Government look into this matter with a view to giving power to the councils to deal with cases of labourers in towns who are badly housed?
§ MR. CHERRYI am afraid there would be considerable difficulty in the matter, because the proceedings in rural districts are under a different Act of Parliament from those in town.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)In view of the strong feeling that something should be done in this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman see if he cannot cheapen and facilitate generally the procedure?
§ MR. CHERRYI will see what can be done.