§ MR. DAVITTI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, what is the total amount of money now at the disposal annually of the Congested Districts Board for the furtherance of the labours of that body; if he can state the sum which has been added this year, and for future annual outlay, to the previous yearly income of the Board; and, whether a portion of this total yearly revenue, and it so, how much, is specifically intended for the work of bettering or enlarging small holdings in congested areas.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe Board's ordinary income is £41,250 per annum, being interest on the Church Surplus Grant, exclusive of assistance out of valid moneys to the extent of about £6,000 towards the cost of administration. In addition to these amounts the Board administration (chiefly for loans) two fishery funds, the capital value of which at present is about £40,000. In reply to the second paragraph, I would refer the honourable Member to the statement already made by me in the debate on an Amendment to the Address at the beginning of this session. The future annual income of the Board will be increased by a sum of between £18,000 and £19,000 a year, but this provision will have to be made by Bill, and I Cannot state at present Whether any of the additional income will begin to accrue before the commencement of the next financial year. No portion of the yearly revenue of the Board is specifically allocated to the paragraph. In the speech already alluded to I explained the further facilities which the Board will in future enjoy by the placing of floating capital at its disposal. The money for the purchase of estates is obtained by advances of land stock from the Land Commission.