§ Mr. FFRENCHasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Wexford District Council are at present working a scheme for giving an additional half-acre to the agricultural labourer; can he say how many additional half-acres are being given; and whether the land was voluntarily or taken compulsorily?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Wexford Rural District Council propose to acquire, by agreement with the persons interested, 144 half acres to be added to the like number of half-acre plots already provided, so as to bring the allotment in each case up to the maximum of a statute acre allowed by the Labourers Acts. No scheme has been submitted to the Board, and the council, who are apparently proceeding under Section 2 of the Act of 1906, are at present negotiating with the parties as to the terms of purchase in cases where these persons are disposed to give the plots voluntarily.