Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Tipperary board of guardians five years ago authorised the erection of a small building for Dr. M. J. Madden, which still remains uncompleted; whether 1013W he can state the name of the contractor, and why such a long period has elapsed I since the foundation stone was laid; whether the Local Government Board have any powers to compel the completion of the building; and, if so, will he authorise steps to be taken to that end?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that the project of building a dispensary residence has been in the guardians' hands since 1905. There was considerable delay and difficulty in obtaining a suitable site and a further protracted delay in making out a legal title to the site suggested by Dr. Madden, so that it was not until October, 1908, that the Local Government Board's certificate could be issued to enable the guardians to apply for the requisite loan. Subsequently the guardians repeatedly advertised for a contractor, but were unable to secure one; and in October last they asked for and obtained the permission of the Local Government Board to erect the buildings by direct labour under the supervision of their engineer. Building operations appear to have been in progress for some twelve weeks past. The provision of the residence was a matter entirely within the guardians' discretion, and the Local Government Board had no power to compel them to erect the residence and have no authority to compel its completion.