§ MR. LONSDALETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the total number of labourers who have been provided with cottage plots or allotments under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, 1883 to 1906, the total area of land so allocated, and the average extent of each plot or allotment.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The total number of labourers' cottages provided up to the 31st March last was 22,921. In 13,143 of these cases the allotments attached do not exceed half a statute acre; in 513 cases they are between one-half and three-quarters of an acre; and in the remaining 9,265 cases beween three-quarters of an acre and one acre, which latter is the maximum allotment. The total quantity of land so taken for allotments may therefore be taken to be approximately 16,220 acres; and in addition about 60 acres have been taken or allotments for labourers' cottages which had already been provided. The average extent of each cottage plot or allotment is somewhat less than three roods.