§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary whether the Tipperary (No. 2) Rural District Council has made application for the first instalment of the loan for the council's (opposed) labourers' scheme; if so, when was the application received; and when will the instalment be granted, as the labourers are anxious to till their plots?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board received on 28th March last an application for their sanction to the loan required, and on the 19th instant sanctioned the' loan. The district council may expect to receive the first instalment from the 2443W Land Commission by Thursday, the 28th instant.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board have received a resolution from the Tipperary (No. 2) Council relative to a new improvement scheme formulated by the council last June; and, if so, will he see that some of the earmarked money will be devoted to the carrying through of this scheme, as it is a small one?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board have received the resolution referred to. It is expected that the comparatively small balance (roughly speaking, about £250,000) remaining out of the £4,250,000 provided by the Labourers Act of 1906 will be required for the purpose of carrying out schemes which are already the subject of inquiry, and which should of course have priority to schemes not yet formulated or inquired into. In these circumstances I am unable to give the undertaking asked for in the question.