§ Mr. FITZPATRICKasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the Mountmellick District Council have received fifty-seven applications from labourers and artisans from the town of Mountmellick for allotments of land under the Government food production scheme; that the district council have only received one offer of 5 acres from a landholder in that district; and, in view of the failure to acquire such land by agreement, will compulsory powers be exercised by the Department of Agriculture?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Department of Agriculture have not received any communication from the Mountmellick District Council in reference to the matter. Under Section 12 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1886, the rural district council could acquire land compulsorily on lease independently of the Department of Agriculture.