§ 75. Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has given at tention to a resolution of the Kilrush Urban District Council setting out the difficulties interposed by the Local Government Board in respect to a loan desired by the council in order to provide the beginnings of a housing scheme for the town of Kilrush; whether the urgency of this reform has been brought home to the officials concerned; whether the reason why the loan is riot sanctioned is because the council has been unwilling to under take in the first place a scheme of water works which would strain its resources too greatly; whether it will be recognised that the two schemes stand on independent footings; and whether facilities for the loan will now be given?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe resolution referred to has received my attention. As I have already stated, the question of the loan for a housing scheme in the district must be deferred until attention is given to the 832 water supply of the whole urban district. The Local Government Board have recently been obliged to issue an Order directing the council to take steps for the provision of a proper water supply for the district within six months from the date of the Order. The urban council have the remedy in their own hands, and the sooner they provide a water supply the sooner the question of a housing scheme will be considered.
§ Mr. LYNCHIf each of these two schemes is on an independent footing, why should one good scheme be interfered with simply because it seems to clash with the other?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is not a good scheme to build cottages where there is no proper water supply.