§ 21. Sir THOMAS ESMONDEasked the Chief Secretary if he will use his influence with the Irish Local Government Board to have the inquiry into the proposed garden city scheme for Corey, county Wexford, held as speedily as possible; if, on reconsideration of the fact that there is no opposition to the scheme, the Local Government Board is still of the opinion that an inquiry is necessary; and if, pending the inquiry, the Local Government Board will authorise the payment by over draft with the district council's treasurers for the site of the proposed scheme?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAn inquiry cannot be dispensed with in this case, as the scheme of the district council involves the provision of house accommodation (seventy-six cottages) as well as the purchase of land, in respect of which a provisional agreement has already been entered into with the owner. The Local Government Board are not empowered to authorise pay-men for the land by an overdraft from the council's treasurer or otherwise in anticipation of the scheme being sanctioned. As regards the holding of the inquiry, the Board cannot give precedence to this case over schemes received from other districts where the necessity for additional cottages is much greater.