§ Mr. JOHN O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the average cost incurred by rural district councils in acquiring one-acre plots of land and erecting labourers' cottages thereon; what is the amount of contribution made towards such average cost, and how much has to be found by the councils; at what rate of interest can rural district councils borrow for this purpose, and what are the number of years over which repayment extends; what is the estimated cost of repairs and collection of rent, and what is the estimated annual charge to be levied by the rural district councils in orlder that no charge should fall upon rates?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board do not possess statistics enabling them to state with certainty the average cost of providing a labourer's cottage with an acre allotment attached, but they consider that £170 may be taken as a fairly approximate figure. The amount of contribution towards such cost is 36 per cent., leaving 64 per cent. to be found by the local authorities. The rates at which rural district councils can at present borrow for this purpose are those specified in the Irish Land Act of 1903, namely, 2¾ per cent. interest and ½ per cent. sinking fund, making a total annual charge of £3 5s. for every £100 advanced, the period of repayment being 68½ years. Precise figures regarding the cost of repairs and collection of rent cannot be given, but about £2 per cottage per annum should be sufficient to cover these items and insurance. Taking the above figures, the annual rent per cottage and plot which the district councils should require the tenants to pay, so that no portion of the charge should fall on the rates, would be about £5 10s., or 2s. 2d. per week. It was not, however, contemplated that the labouring class should bear all the cost, as provision is made in the Labourers Acts that the charge on the rates may be high as 1s. in the pound, and in exceptional cases 1s. 3d. in the pound.