asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he received any objection to the proposals of the commissioner administering the affairs of Westmeath Board of Health in regard to the erection of labourers' cottages in the vicinity of Kinnegad; whether it has been brought to his attention that the site selected for the erection of the cottages in question is situated more than a mile from the village of Kinnegad, and from schools, church, etc.; whether he is aware that the soil is unsuitable for tillage purposes, and that the site is flooded and swampy in the winter months; whether he is aware that there are several suitable sites available convenient to the village of Kinnegad which could be secured for the erection of these cottages; whether, in fact, he has acknowledged the communications addressed to him in which the objections of the prospective tenants were set out; and, if so, whether he has intimated his intention to refuse the sanction of the site, and, if not, whether he will have the whole matter of the acquisition of this site inquired into before his sanction is given for its acquisition.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Site for Labourers' Cottages.
On the 29th ultimo and 14th instant I received objections to the acquisition by the commissioner of a site for the erection of labourers' cottages. These objections were on the ground that the site was unsuitable and too far from the village of Kinnegad. I have no information that the soil is unsuitable for tillage or that the site is flooded and swampy during the winter months. I am not aware that there are several suitable sites convenient to Kinnegad which could be secured. The objections received were duly acknowledged. The acquisition of the site was sanctioned on the 12th January last, that is eight months before the first objection was made to me. The acceptance of a tender for the erection of cottages on the site was sanctioned in July last.