§ 10. Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that dissatisfaction is expressed in West Clare at the dilatory action of the Congested Districts Board and its failure to complete business which should have been disposed of years ago, as for instance in the Reeves estate, West Clare; whether any general instruction has been given to the Board to reduce its activities to a minimum at the present time; and, if not, whether he can promise the speedy completion of sales and vesting of tenants in estates in West Clare on which the Board has been occupied for many months or years?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI am aware that in West Clare—as elsewhere—there is a strong desire that the work of the Congested Districts Board should proceed at a greater rate than has been found possible in the past and than financial conditions at present allow. As regards the Reeves estate sale, agreements are now being prepared except for a small section in which rearrangement is delayed by difficulty in obtaining certain lands for enlargement of holdings. While no such instructions have been given as are referred to in the question, it has been necessary to restrict borrowing for improvement works from the Local Loans Funds and as a result the preparation of estates for resale will suffer delay.
§ Mr. LYNCHDoes the answer of the right hon. Gentleman mean that the Congested Districts Board has practically suspended its operations in Ireland?
§ Mr. RUSSELLNo, I do not think you can take my answer that way; but you may gather from it that the work of the Congested Districts Boards, and all classes of work of that kind, is seriously affected by the present financial situation.