§ MR. L. P. HAYDEN (Rosscommon, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether complaints have reached the Local Government Board as to the incidence of taxation for the water supply of Tullamore, ratepayers living in districts which have not the direct advantage of the supply, having to pay the same poundage rate as those who enjoy that advantage; and whether the Board will recommend the Guardians to levy the contribution in proportion to the advantages concerned?
*MR. J. MORLEYComplaints of the nature indicated in the question have been received by the Local Government Board. In 1891, the Guardians of the Tullamore Union undertook to provide a new water supply, and decided that the area of charge for the expenditure should be the whole electoral division of Tullamore. The Local Government Board declared the charge accordingly. Subsequently, a Provisional Order was obtained and confirmed by Parliament empowering the Guardians to take lands compulsorily, and a loan was granted on the security of the rates of the division, referred to. All this took place publicly and without objection, and the Local Government Board are advised that the arrangement cannot now be altered.