§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford,N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the amount of money granted by Parliament for the construction of railways in Ireland which is yet unexpended; under what account and to what fund these unexpended sums are credited; and, in cases where original plans have fallen through, can these sums or any of them be devoted to the construction or extension of other lines.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe amount of the grant referred to so far unexpended is £270, 286. This sum is not held in a Suspense Account, as the money is lent when required to the Treasury by the National Debt Commissioners, on the application of the Board of Public Works. The whole of the money made available under the Act of 1896, except a small balance to meet possible excess expenditure in carrying out the schemes 694 already undertaken, has been hypothecated.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLHave any schemes had to be abandoned?
§ MR. WYNDHAMA sufficient number have not been abandoned to make it necessary to retain the money in hand.