§ MR. J. MACVEAGHTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the resolution of the Banbridge, County Down, Rural District Council, protesting against the present existing law relating to water supplies, and calling upon the Government so to alter the law as to empower the sanitary authorities to compel the owners of house property to supply their tenants with a sufficient quantity of pure water, the cost of same to be defrayed by the owner of the property; and whether the matter will receive the attention of the Government.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) My attention has been called to the resolution in question. The existing provisions of the law will be found in Section 72 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, but this section would appear to apply only when a supply of water is obtainable from a public source. The question whether it would be desirable to extend these provisions will be considered when any amendment of the existing laws as to public health in Ireland is contemplated.