§ Mr. FFRENCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if a Local Government Board inquiry was held in Wexford on the 1st day of July last, with the result that the loan was sanctioned by the Board of Works for the corporation of Wexford to build forty-four artisans' dwellings in the town of Wexford; and will the Treasury grant the corporation the loan as a matter of urgency as the houses are very badly needed?
§ Mr. MONTAGUAs a result of the inquiry referred to in the question, the Local Government Board sanctioned a loan of £10,000 for working-class dwellings, but pointed out that the decision as to whether the loan could be made from public funds would rest with the Treasury. The Wexford Corporation have since applied for the loan to the Board of Works, who stated, in accordance with the general instructions which they have received from the Treasury, that they were not prepared to proceed with the case as it did not appear to be urgent. The corporation replied, giving their reasons for regarding their case as urgent, and the Board of Works are making further inquiries, and, pending the result of them, I cannot give an undertaking that the loan will be granted.