§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked the Chief Secretary whether the attention of the Local Government Board had been drawn to the delay in obtaining contracts for the erection of labourers' cottages in 831W the Killadeas district of Irvinestown Union, county Fermanagh; whether this delay is caused by the architect's specification requiring a stone to be used which the intending contractors cannot procure at a reasonable price; and would he suggest to the Local Government Board to press upon the district council the expediency of causing their architect to alter the specification in respect of the stone in such a way that it may be possible for contractors to tender for the erection of the cottages?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Irvinestown Rural District Council in September last informed the Local Government Board that they experienced some difficulty in getting tenders for cottages, and considered that this was partly due to their architect only allowing the use of local bricks at a reduced figure. On the Board informing the Council that they should be guided by the advice of their architect in the matter, they again advertised, and it would appear that up to the present tenders have been accepted for twenty-five out of the forty-three authorised cottages. Any reasonable alterations in the approved specification which the Council and their architect may submit will receive careful consideration.