HC Deb 12 November 1888 vol 330 cc886-7
MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether any expenditure, apart from the ordinary salaries, has been incurred in maintaining the navigation on the Lower Bann since the Report of the Royal Commission upon the drainage schemes was published; and, if so, what is the amount, if any, of such expenditure; what proportion of such expenditure has been incurred since the introduction of the Bann Drainage Bill; what is the amount of the fees received since the commencement of this expenditure, and who is responsible for it; and, whether the Trustees of the Bann Navigation are prepared to state that during the expenditure the navigation of the Lower Bann has been kept free?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)

(who replied) said: The Secretary to the Trustees of the Bann Navigation states that, inasmuch as the Trust is for Navigation in connection with drainage, no separate account for each has been kept; and he is, therefore, obliged to furnish the following Return, which embraces works executed for the purpose of drainage as well as of navigation. Since July 1, 1886, the expenditure (apart from the ordinary salaries) and the receipts have been as follows:—Half-year to December 31, 1886, expenditure £509; receipts from Grand Jury £400, from tolls, &c. £27; June 30, 1887, expenditure £240; receipts from Grand Jury £200, from tolls, &c. £16; December 31, 1887, expenditure £410; receipts from Grand Jury £400, from tolls, &c. £21; June 30, 1888, expenditure £86; receipts from Grand Jury £400, from tolls, &c. £23; period to November 10, 1888, expenditure £69; receipts from Grand Jury £300, from tolls, &c. £17. The Trustees have accounted for these tolls to the respective Grand Juries of the counties of Antrim and Londonderry, except as regards those received during the last mentioned period, which are standing to their credit in the bank account of the Trustees. The Secretary further adds that the navigation has been kept free during the expenditure.