§ 29. Mr. FFRENCHasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a scheme under the Labourers Acts was passed by the Wexford Rural District Council as far back as July, 1911; that after a year's correspondence the council and the Local Government Board agreed, in August last, to the design of cottage to be built under the scheme; that, notwithstanding the repeated requests of the council, the Local Government Board have failed to direct an inquiry into the scheme; and whether, having regard to the urgency of the matter and to the fact that the scheme proposes the erection of a number of houses instead of condemned dwellings, and seeing that more cottages are required in the district and that the Board have appointed a new inspector under the Acts, he will request the Local Government Board to direct that an inquiry be immediately held?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe facts generally are as stated in the first part of the question. As regards the delay in holding the inquiry, the Local Government Board cannot admit that there is any special urgency for more cottages in the Wexford Rural District (where 843 cottages have already been built) as compared with other districts where comparatively few cottages have been provided. The council have been fully informed of the position of the Board in regard to the financing of new schemes out of the additional million provided by the Act of 1911. No additional inspector has been appointed under the Labourers Acts; the appointment referred to merely fills a vacancy on the existing staff.
§ 31. Mr. LARDNERasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ire-laud whether the Local Government Board for Ireland have communicated with the Cootehill (No. 2) Rural District Council since the 7th November last in reference to the failure of the council to 609 erect cottages on the twenty-four sites which they acquired between December, 1909, and August, 1910; if so, what was the reply of the council; and have any steps been taken towards the erection of the cottages on the sites in question?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board communicated with the rural district council on the 12th December, again urging them to take steps to secure the erection of the cottages referred to. Two tenders were accepted by the council at their December meeting, leaving only eleven cottages yet to be contracted for. The question of the erection of the remaining cottages will not be lost sight of by the Board.