HC Deb 07 December 1911 vol 32 cc1569-70
Mr. JOHN WALSH

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in the rural district of Clonamakilty, county Cork, a number of agricultural labourers are not provided with sufficient house accommodation, and that, although the rural district council, with a view to remedy such insufficient house accommodation, made an improvement scheme under the Labourers Acts, 1883 to 1911, on 17th February, 1911, and presented a petition to the Local Government Board for Ireland on the 14th July last praying that an inquiry may be held into the improvement scheme, the Local Government Board have not since taken steps to hold such inquiry; and will he state what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Local Government Board consider that in dealing with new schemes they must have due regard to the extent to which the Labourers Acts have already been put into operation by the councils which are applying for authority to provide additional labourers cottages. Three hundred and eighty-five cottages have already been authorised in this district, while the average per district in Munster is 342. The inquiry will be ordered as soon as practicable.

Mr. GUINEY

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Kanturk Rural District Council have forwarded a petition to the Local Government Board praying that an inquiry may be held into an improvement scheme made by the council under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts; and, as the Local Government Board have not yet granted the inquiry, will he state the cause of the delay?

Mr. BIRRELL

The scheme in this case was only lodged with the Local Government Board on the 11th November. As I have already stated the Local Government Board consider that in dealing with new schemes they must have due regard to the extent to which the Labourers Acts have already been put into operation by the councils which are applying for authority to provide additional labourers' cottages. Six hundred and forty-one cottages have already been authorised in this district, the average for the several districts in Munster being 342.