§ MR. J. DEVLINTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Aghalee, county Antrim, District Council approved of a scheme for the erection of forty-three labourers cottages in February, 1907, but that, up to the present, no inspection for these cottages has been made by the Local Government Board; whether about the same time a number of labourers, whose claims were rejected by the council, petitioned the Local Government Board to hold an inquiry, and that the Board 1376 consented, but that no inquiry has yet been held; and, if so, whether he will direct the Local Government Board to take action in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The scheme in question was not submitted by the rural district council to the Board for confirmation until 14th October last, and on examination of the documents it was found that the provisions of the Acts as to-advertisement of schemes had not been complied with. As the Board had no power to dispense with this requirement, the scheme was sent back for due publication, and it was again presented to the Board on 23rd December. The application was then dealt with as quickly a possible, and arrangements have already been made for the holding of a local inquiry, which will be opened on the 12th instant.