HC Deb 17 July 1896 vol 43 cc27-8
MR. JAMES DALY (Monaghan, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he is aware that the associated cess-payers at the baronial sessions for the district of Ballyboy voted in January and in May this year the sum of £60 for the concreting of a footpath between M'Manus' Corner and the Commercial Hotel, Ballyboy, and that the Grand Jury of Monaghan refused for the past two assizes to pay the money voted by the cesspayers of Ballyboy; and, (2) whether he will cause this much-needed work in the town of Ballyboy to be carried out?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

A presentment was passed on two occasions, though not unanimously, at the Baronial Sessions, in favour of the particular work mentioned, but the presentment was opposed by cesspayers before the Grand Jury, and was rejected on the ground that the existing footpath was in very good order and that the proposed expen- diture would cause an unnecessary addition to the county rates. I have no power to entertain the proposal in the last paragraph of the question.

MR. DALY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he is aware that the Secretary to the Grand Jury of the county Monaghan, charges the road contractors of the barony of Cremorne 8d. per tender form; (2) whether this is a legal charge; and (3), whether he can say if it is the money of the cesspayers that pays for the printing of the tender forms sold to road contractors in county Monaghan?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am informed by the Secretary to the Grand Jury that the fact is as stated in the first paragraph. The Statutory fee for a form of tender is sixpence, and, in explanation of the additional charge of twopence, the Secretary to the Grand Jury assigns reasons similar to those mentioned by me on the 18th June, when I replied to a previous question of the hon. Member on the same subject. As to the last paragraph, I am informed that the sum of sixpence covers the cost of clerical assistance employed in filling the forms of tender with particulars as to specifications, etc., and that the cost of printing the forms is defrayed by the County.