§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the number of labourers' cottages erected or sanctioned in Ireland under Labourers Acts, the number and the average cost in each county, the total expenditure up to the present, the total costs apart from expenditure on land, labour, and material, and the number of claims or applications at present under consideration?
§ Mr. BIRRELLUp to 31st March last, 22,921 cottages had been erected under the Labourers Acts. The records of the Local Government Board do not show the number of additional cottages since provided. The number actually authorised to be erected up to date is approximately 44,000, not including 2,000 which are at present provisionally authorised. The total cost of providing cottages in each county, apart from expenditure on land, labour and material could only be obtained by applying to the several rural District Councils. The latest available information for all the districts in Ireland regarding the expenditure and the number of applications is contained in Tables C and D of the appendix to the Annual Report of the Local Government Board, pages 336℃357, to which I would refer the hon. Member. The Local Government Board will shortly be obtaining similar information with regard to the year ending on the 31st instant, and will then be in a position to furnish particulars up to date if required, and also to give the number of cottages and the average cost in each county.