§ 2. Mr. DELANYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, if he will state why Richard Grubb, Esq., local government auditor, surcharged the Abbeyleix District Council, Queen's County, at the last audit in a sum of £2 10s.; is he aware that the amount named was expended in repairing the fence of a plot of land attached to an unoccupied labourer's cottage; that the expenditure was necessary in order to let the cottage and plot; and can he say upon what grounds the Local Government Board have refused to remit the surcharge?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)The auditor surcharged the amount referred to on the grounds that the payment was illegal, being made by the council for the repairing of a fence around a labourer's cottage plot which the tenant was bound to keep in repair under his agreement with the council. The tenant allowed the fence to fall into a dilapidated condition and then left the cottage owing considerable arrears of rent. The cottage, which had also become dilapidated was then put in repair and he was readmitted as tenant. At the same meeting at which the council decided to readmit him they also gave directions for the repair of the fence.
§ Mr. DELANYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the house was unoccupied at the time?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI am not able to answer that.