asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware of the urgent necessity for the erection of labourers' cottages at Tullow, County Carlow, to replace the insanitary houses there; if he will state the number of such cottages which have been erected within a radius of two miles of that town under the Housing Acts, 1932-34, and whether any recent proposals have been submitted to his Department for the erection of cottages at Tullow; and if so, for how many such cottages.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Need for Labourers' Cottages at Tullow.
A survey of the housing needs of Tullow was made last October from which it appears that 106 cottages are required in the town to house persons coming within the definition of "agricultural labourer."
No cottages have been erected since 1932 within a radius of two miles of the town, but the Carlow Board of Health included sites for the erection of 28 cottages in the Tullow district in a compulsory purchase order made in 1934. These sites were, however, excluded from the Compulsory Purchase Order, as the Inspector who held the public local inquiry in the matter found them unsuitable.
The Board of Health were communicated with in October last as to the necessity for the early acquisition of other sites in the town, and they have since included sites for the erection of 30 cottages in a Compulsory Purchase Order which they made on the 11th instant. I understand also that the Board intend to acquire sites for the erection of a further 30 cottages at Tullow under a proposed new scheme.