§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked as to the time when the Congested Districts Board will renew operations in the improvement of lands in the counties of Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon; and whether, considering that many thousands of labourers from these counties are about to migrate to England and Scotland, facilities will be given to the Board so as to have the work of improvement taken up immediately in the interests of economy and cheap labour obtainable on the spot, as well as for the purpose of accelerating the work in connection with the breaking up of grazing ranches now in the hands of the Board on which they intend to plant persons from other congested areas, who are kept in a state of poverty and uncertainty owing to the want of money to carry out the much needed improvements in the vast areas named?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are able to provide a. sum of £40,000 for improvement works on the estates now in their hands during the six months ending 30th September next. This sum includes £25,000 balance of a special lean of £50,000 obtained from the Treasury. £18,000 can be provided for the following six months. Further funds cannot be obtained in the year 1909–10 unless they are provided by Parliament.