§ MR. HUGH LAW (Donegal, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if he can give particulars as to number, price, and total amount of the purchases by the Royal Irish Academy from finders of treasure-trove since June, 1896, through the medium of the Constabulary, in accordance with the arrangement stated to have 665 been sanctioned by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury in the circular issued by the President of the Academy in that year; and also the total annual sum available for the purchase of objects of antiquity by the Royal Irish Academy.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Since June 1896 only one object of treasure-trove (a gold armlet for which a sum of £4 was paid) was purchased through the medium of the Constabulary, all the other antiquities purchased having been sent to the Academy directly. The amount available annually for the purchase of antiquities is £100.