§ MR. J. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how much the poor rate struck by boards of guardians in Ireland for the year 1896–97 was short of the amount required to leave the unions in Ireland out of debt on the 29th September, 1897?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Local Government Board are not at present in a position to furnish information in reply to this Question, but a Return is in course of preparation showing the financial condition of each poor law union at the close of the financial year ended in 1897, together with the amount of rate assessed in each union for the expenditure of that year. Some necessary information has not yet been received, but it is expected that the Return will be completed very shortly.
§ MR. T. HARRINGTON (Dublin, Harbour)Will the right honourable Gentleman give a Return also of the amount annually expended in the year?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI will consider that.