§ MR. TULLY (Leitrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board are aware that the grand juries at the spring assizes have presented for sums due to contractors and others, and, although there are funds and balances on hand sufficient to discharge these liabilities, yet owing to an order of the Local Government Board the contractors and others to whom the money is duo cannot be paid; and whether he can state what steps will be taken to have this order modified, and these liabilities paid off by the county officials?
§ *MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Local Government Board have not issued any Order of the nature indicated in the Question. The Transitory Provisions Order in Council requires Grand Juries to liquidate from balances in hand all sums legally due at the date of the Assizes, and they are also authorised to make presentments for certain specified services in respect of the period ending the 30th September next, but payments on foot of these presentments will be made by the County Council. If the honourable Member will furnish me with particulars of any case in which he considers the provisions of the Order in Council have not been complied with, I will have further inquiry made into the matter.