MR. C. MACVEIGH (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board have come to the conclusion not to advance more than £170 on an average in respect of the acquirement of a plot of land and the erection of a labourer's cottage thereon under the Labourers (Ireland) Act; and, if so, whether he is aware that this sum is wholly inadequate for the purchase of a statute acre and the erection of a cottage, and that, in consequence, the Stranorlar Rural District Council are unable to acquire more than half an acre of land; and whether, having regard to the wants of the labourers with large families, he will take steps to secure money sufficient to provide an acre of land, and so carry out the intentions of the Act.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (MR. CHERRY, Liverpool, Exchange, for Mr. BIRRELL)My right hon. friend dealt fully with this matter in his reply to the Question put by the hon. Member for North Dublin on 17th April †The Local Government Board have not fixed any definite maximum applicable to all rural districts, but they are endeavouring to keep the expenditure within the limit of £170 per cottage, so that 25,000 cottages and allotments may be provided with the.£4,250,000 set apart for the purpose by the Act of last session. If the Stranorlar District Council proceed with economy, there is, in the opinion of the Local Government Board, no reason why a suitable cottage and acre allotment in that district should not be provided for About £170.