§ MR. GLENDINNINGTO ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland why the ratepayers of the Ballycastle dispensary district, in addition to paying a rate of 10d. in the pound for water and sewerage charges, are to be further charged by the Local Government Board with cost of water supply to be taken into the town of Armoy, after a promise from the district council of exemption from paying any further rates for water or any sewerage scheme that might in the future take place over the Ballycastle union.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I understand that the facts are substantially as stated in the Question, save that it is the ratepayers of the town of Ballycastle and not 15 the ratepayers of the Ballycastle dispensary district generally who should be referred to. The town of Ballycastle, consisting of the townland of Townparks, at present bears the cost of its own water and sewerage works; but, in consequence of a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, the Local Government Board had no power to exempt it when declaring the expenses of the Armoy water supply to be a dispensary district charge. The remedy for the grievance lies, however, in the hands of the local authority, as, if they consent to the cost of the sanitary works in the town of Ballycastle being also made a dispensary district charge, the Local Government Board will readily make an order accordingly. The Board have suggested the adoption of this course in a letter which they have addressed to the rural district council.