§ 18. Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary how the million of money provided under the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1911, has been expended to date; whether any portion of it remains unallocated, and, if so, how much; will he state the number of labourers' cottages at present authorised, after inquiry, for which no advances by way of loan have been sanctioned; what is the number of cottages included in schemes which have been submitted to the Local Government Board, but into which no inquiries have yet been held; and whether he will give the names of the district councils which have formulated these schemes and the number embraced in each scheme?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn round numbers £660,000 has been actually sanctioned, and the balance (with the exception of about 2086 £90,000) is ear-marked for schemes which are at present authorised or in process of authorisation. These schemes provide for 1,465 cottages. The number of cottages included in schemes received but into which inquiries have not yet been ordered is 4,467. The following are the names of the councils and number of cottages embraced in each scheme: Delvin, 101; Urlingford, 7; Kinsale, 168; Croom, 150; Tulla, 28; Fermoy, 256; Mitchelstown No. 2, 28; Bandon, 114; Kanturk, 304; Cork, 642; Youghal No. 1, 53; Mullingar, 185; Killadysert, 41; Kells, 117; Listowel, 397; Gortnahoe, 27; Mallow, 246; Youghal No. 2, 27; Limerick No. l, 253; Slievemargy, 55; Newcastle, 132; Rathkeale, 291; Borrisokane, 69; Mitchelstown No. 1, 99; Ballymoney, 81; Carlow, 51; Cavan, 63; Tralee, 344; Cloneygowan, 47; Gorey, 91.
§ 19. Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that several rural district councils have, owing to the depleted condition of the Labourers' Fund, refrained from formulating fresh schemes for the provision of labourers' cottages and additional allotments, even where it has been shown that there is an urgent need for them; and whether, seeing that the million proposed to be granted under the Bill now before Parliament is insufficient to carry out the schemes already promulgated, he will consider the advisability of providing a larger sum?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is possible that some Councils may have postponed action pending the provision of additional funds by Parliament, but since the announcement of the promise of the additional million, schemes are being received by the Local Government Board. There is no ground for the statement that the further million is insufficient to carry out schemes already lodged.
§ Mr. SHEEHANIs the right hon. Member aware that the million will provide for only 5,000 cottages, and that there are already promulgated something like 10,000, which £1,000,000 could not possibly satisfy?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIf the hon. Member knew how difficult it was to get a million he ought to be a little more grateful.
§ Mr. SHEEHANDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny the statement that a million is insufficient for present needs?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot deny the statement, but it is a very large amount of money, and will go a very long way towards meeting the need for houses.
§ 20. Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary what portion of the additional million provided under the Labourers Act of 1911 has been allocated to each county in Munster; will he give the names of the district councils in these several counties which received loans and the amount in each case; whether his attention has been called to the discretionary powers exercised by the Local Government Board in making advances under this Act; whether this discretionary power is to operate in future; and, if so, whether he intends to take steps to place unions who undertook heavy liabilities for the housing of their labourers prior to 1906 in the same position as those unions who took no such steps until cheap money was available?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe additional million referred to forms part of the total fund of five and a quarter millions specified in the Labourers Act of 1911, the allocation of which should be considered as a whole. Out of this Munster has received over a million and a half, and the portion of this amount which may be said to come out of the final million is about £75,000. It would require a considerable search to make out for each district council the amount of the loans which they received separately from the two Parliamentary Grants. The discretionary powers of the Local Government Board are exercised in pursuance of Statute and will operate in future. The hon. Member seems to have overlooked the fact that districts which undertook heavy liabilities for the housing of their labourers prior to 1906 are receiving a subsidy of £1 8s. 8d. per cottage for every cottage built on 1st November, 1906.
§ Mr. SHEEHANAm I to understand from the statement of the right hon. Gentleman that out of the additional million voted in 1911 only £75,000 came to Munster?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI think that is so, having regard to the fact that they received over a million before.
§ Mr. SHEEHANDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that, out of the million, it is a fair distribution to make to Munster?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot pretend that the whole amount is divided with mathematical accuracy between the various provinces.
§ Mr. SHEEHANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Local Government Board is exercising a discretionary power against Munster and the counties, and in favour of districts that did not previously do their duty under the Labourers Acts?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, I am quite sure that is not the fact.
§ Mr. SHEEHANI am quite certain it is.