§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieu tenant of Ireland if he will state the Act under which the Board of Works (Ireland) was established, and if he will give the dates of any other Acts affecting the constitution or the powers of the Board; and if he will state how much money has been spent in Ireland by the Board of Works since its inception, and how much has been advanced through it by way of loans in Ireland.
(Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The Board of Works (Ireland) was established by the Act 1 and 2 Will. 4, c. 33. The later Acts affecting the constitution or powers of the Board 16 are numerous and cannot conveniently be set out in an Answer to a Question. It would take a considerable time to work out the figures of expenditure requested. The loans advanced by the Board to the 31st March, 1904, reached a total of £45,825,781 6s. 8d., so far as the accounts have been provisionally summarised.