§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the building of nine cottages has been sanctioned in the townlands of Lacabeg, Lacamore, Curralahan, and Ganavane, all situate in the Bilboa division of the Tipperary (No. 2) Rural District, but that no contractor can be found to put them up owing to the scarcity of quarries and the remoteness of the district; and, having regard to the 1297W fact that contractors have been advertised for since September, 1909, without any result, will he recommend the Local Government Board to sanction the building of those houses by direct labour, the former to be made by cement, and thus enable the poor people to be comfortably housed before the approach of winter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLDifficulty has been experienced in finding contractors willing to build the nine authorised cottages on reasonable terms, but the Local Government Board are not aware of the causes of the difficulty. The board are prepared, in the circumstances stated, to sanction the building of the cottages by direct labour, provided the council comply with the conditions which the board require to be observed in such cases.