§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that with regard to a housing scheme under consideration at the time of the passing of the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Act, 1908, the Kells urban district council applied to the Local Government Board to extend the period of repayment from 40 to 80 years, and that the Board refused and fixed the repayment period at 60 years; and whether, having regard to the hardship the shorter period will inflict upon the occupiers of the proposed new houses, he will ask the Local Government Board to reconsider their decision and accede to the request of the Kells urban district council?
§ Mr. BIRRELLEighty years is the maximum period for which money may be borrowed under the Act. The period in the case referred to was, as usual, determined by the Local Government Board after full consideration of the character and durability of the proposed houses. These are, as I am informed, of cheap ordinary construction, and I see no reason why the decision of the Board should be reconsidered. I understand that a similar period of sixty years has been fixed in other cases recently, and that no objection has been raised.