§ Mr. DANIEL BOYLEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what steps have been taken under the Labourers Acts to provide suitable housing accommodation for agricultural labourers in Belmullet, county Mayo; is he aware of the repeated demands made by the labourers of the district for houses; that the need for such accommodation is admitted; and that a housing scheme promoted by the rural district council was rejected by the Local Government Board on their inspector's report on the question of sites; and, in view of these facts, do the Local Government Board propose taking any action to see that the labourers' demand for sanitary houses is met?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is a fact that there has been a considerable demand for housing accommodation for labourers in Belmullet rural district, and the need for such accommodation is admitted. Some time ago the council formulated a scheme for the erection of cottages, and a Provisional Order 221W was made in 1910 authorising the erection of certain cottages. Appeals were lodged, however, with the Local Government Board and the County Court, and the Order was disallowed. As regards the appeal to the Local Government Board, a further local inquiry was ordered to be held by another inspector, and it was found that the sites proposed to be acquired were most injudiciously selected, all being on lands either in or adjoining the town of Belmullet. The council are at present formulating a new scheme, and when the petition for confirmation thereof is received by the Board, a local inquiry will be held at the earliest possible opportunity.