§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the proportion of the agricultural grant allotted to the relief of occupiers under the Local Government (Ireland) Act has been found sufficient to cover half the county cess upon agricultural land on the basis of the standard year; and whether steps will be taken to make good any deficiency.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURThe proportion of the Agricultural Grant, in respect of county cess, is, in each county, a fixed sum equal to one-half the amount certified to have been raised by county cess during the standard year. It cannot, as yet, be stated whether this sum is equal to one-half the present year's rate, as the audits of the accounts have not yet been completed. Whether the amount will prove equal to the proportion of the poor rate to be raised for county charges in succeeding years will largely depend upon whether the county and district councils are economical in their administration, or the reverse. If the rate for county purposes exceeds the standard year rate, the Government will not make up the deficiency in the grant, nor in the event of the rate being below that of the 291 standard year will they demand that any portion of the grant shall be refunded by the Councils.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANIf the amount is not sufficient to meet the sum raised during the standard year, will the deficiency be made good?
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI have already replied to that question.