In a session at the House of Commons, Mr Joyce raised concerns over the progress of the housing scheme proposed by the County Borough Council of Limerick. The Council had submitted a loan request amounting to £5,135 for the initiation of their inaugural housing project under the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Act, 1908. Mr Joyce sought clarification from the Secretary to the Treasury regarding the current status of the loan application and the approval process for the associated plans.

The Secretary to the Treasury responded, indicating that the application had only recently come to the attention of the Board of Works, having been received on March 6th, a mere few days before the parliamentary inquiry. Assuring prompt consideration, he conveyed that the plans were under active review by the Irish Local Government Board, a crucial step in the approval process.

Notably, it was disclosed that the Irish Local Government Board had already given their nod of approval to a segment of the proposed housing scheme. An amount of £1,700 had been sanctioned for building purposes, signifying a positive step towards realizing the housing initiative. However, a remaining portion of the loan, amounting to £6,435, was contingent upon the incorporation of alterations recommended by the Local Government Board in the submitted plans.

The voluntary nature of the scheme, coupled with the fact that the majority of the land earmarked for development belonged to the County Borough Council, prompted Mr Joyce to query the Treasury’s stance on expediting the loan approval. He stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary delays in commencing the project, particularly given the health-related objectives associated with improving housing conditions.

Mr Hobhouse, responding on behalf of the Treasury, assured that the application was receiving prompt attention. While no specific commitment to an expedited loan approval was made, the emphasis on a swift review indicated a recognition of the urgency surrounding the housing initiative in Limerick.

As the government grapples with addressing housing needs, the outcome of this inquiry will likely impact not just the proposed scheme in Limerick but also shed light on the broader challenges and priorities within housing development in Ireland.

Dublin Daily Express – Tuesday 14 March 1911