asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he has now considered appropriate measures to be taken with a view to safeguarding, for the Boards of Health, plots on which labourers' cottages have not been built, and to which, if such steps are not taken, certain landholders will have acquired in a short time a squatter's title; and whether it is the intention of his Department, in connection with further housing legislation, to provide funds for the building of additional labourers' cottages.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LABOURERS' PLOTS AND COTTAGES.
The position is safeguarded by the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1918, which is continued in operation under the Expiring Laws Act, 1927, up to 31st December next, and entitles the Board of Health to build cottages on the plots referred to up to that date if they desire to do so. Under this year's Expiring Laws Act, it is proposed to continue the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1918, up to the 31st December, 1929. Grants have been available under the Housing Acts, 1925-26, to sanitary authorities undertaking the building of labourers' cottages, and the question of providing funds for building additional labourers' cottages is receiving attention.