§ 8. Major O'NEILLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can say under what Section of the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act are the Local Government Board entitled to refuse the grant of cottages and allotments to ex-service men who apply for them on the ground that the necessity for a house does not exist?
§ Mr. HENRYSection 4 of the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act, 1919, provides that the suitability of the applicant is to be decided by the Local Government Board, and as the Act is, primarily, one for the provision of proper housing accommodation of men who served in the War, the board cannot hold that an applicant whose housing conditions are good, is a fit and suitable person for whom further housing accommodation should be provided at the expense of the State.
§ Major O'NEILLDoes that mean that this Act is practically confined to a very small number of ex-service men in Ireland, and does not apply to a great many who wish to take advantage of it?
§ Mr. HENRYNo, I do not think that is a fair construction of the Act, but if my hon. and gallant Friend would give me any concrete case, I should be very pleased to bring it to the attention of the Local Government Board.
§ Captain REDMONDWill the right hon. Gentleman define what he means by "suitability of the applicant"? Is not every demobilised soldier a suitable applicant?
§ Mr. HENRYCertainly, but obviously demobilised soldiers who already have proper housing accommodation would be to some extent on a different footing from people who have absolutely no accommodation at all.
§ Captain REDMONDHow many demobilised soldiers have proper accommodation?
§ Major O'NEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of allowing those people who may have proper housing accommodation to get allotments?