§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many local inquiries under the Labourers Acts were held during the three months ending 31st January, 1913, and in what counties and rural districts; from how many district councils in county Cork have demands been received for inquiries; on what dates were they received, and how many cottages and allotments are embraced in them; are any inquiries into improvement schemes at present fixed or pending; if so, where and on what dates will they be held; and whether the present staff of inspectors has been found sufficient to cope with the work of the Labourers Acts in respect of these inquiries?
§ Mr. BIRRELLEleven inquiries were held during the three months ending 31st January, 1913, in the following counties: One each in Antrim, Armagh, Cork, Down, Dublin, Longford, Queen's County, and Tyrone, and three in Donegal. Petitions for confirmation of new schemes have been received from nine rural districts in county Cork, namely:—
Rural district. No. of cottages and allotments. Cottages. Allotments. Date of receipt of petition. Bandon … 114 and 15 30th Oct., 1911 Castletown … 29 — 12th Oct., 1912 Clonakilty … 49 and 3 25th July, 1911 Cork … 653 — 7th Dec., 1911 & 3rd Oct., 1912 Fermoy … 256 and 12 19th June, 1911 Kanturk … 305 — 11th Nov., 1911 Kinsale … 169 and 11 21st Mar., 1911 Mallow … 249 — 11th Oct., 1912 Youghal … 53 and 14 6th Feb., 1912 Inquiries are fixed or pending at present in six districts, namely, Ballyshannon, Belleek, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, and Stranorlar. The dates have not yet been fixed in these cases, with the exception of Monaghan, which will be held on the 21st instant. The answer to the last paragraph of the question is in the affirmative.