§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the Dublin Corporation calling on the Department of Agriculture to have extended to Ireland the £2 per acre allowed in Great Britain for fencing, tool-houses, etc; and when this encouragement to plot-holding cultivation will be given to Irish cultivators?
§ Mr. SAMUELSThe Grants in Great Britain to which the hon. Member refers are apparently those provided in the case of lands acquired compulsorily in the vicinity of towns under Regulation 2L of the Defence of the Realm Regulations for cultivation in allotments. As regards lands thus acquired in Ireland, the Department are now empowered in a limited number of cases to make Grants to local authorities not exceeding £2 per acre towards the cost of necessary work of fencing or adapting the lands for cultivation. The conditions under which such Grants may be provided are at present1242W under consideration, but it should be clearly understood that Grants cannot be made except in cases where it is plain that reasonable payments by the cultivators for the use of the lands will not cover the expenses of the local authorities in connection with necessary work of fencing and adaptation in addition to meeting the rents and rates payable in respect of the lands. In Ireland, as in Great Britain, it is expected that in most cases the expenses of the local authorities will be recouped by the payments from the cultivators.