MR. HAZELTON (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland will he state what is the annual sum allocated to the preservation of ancient and national monuments in Ireland and administered by the Commissioners of Public Works; from what source this sum is derived; and whether he will issue a detailed statement showing the manner in which this annual sum is expended.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe sum necessary for the preservation of ancient monuments is voted by Parliament and varies according to the estimated requirements of the year. For 1906–7 the sum inserted in the Estimate for Public Works, etc., Ireland is £351. The sum applicable to national monuments consists of the income derived from dividends on Consolidated Stock held by the Board of Works. For each of the two years to 31st March 1906 the amount of this income was £8739s. 4d. In 1904–5—the last year for which I have information—the expenditure on ancient monuments was £516 6s 2d., and on national monuments £870 12s. 0d. I will furnish the hon. Member privately with statements of the detailed allocation of these sums, which are too long to be given in an Answer.