§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, what is the total amount paid by the ratepayers of Kerry, from 31st March, 1895, to 31st March, 1905, for railway and harbour guarantees; 857 what is the total amount paid by the barony of Corkaguiny in the same period; what is the total valuation of the county and of the barony; what is the total amount paid by the county and by this barony for the same purposes in the year ended March, 1905, and what does it average per pound in the valuation of the whole county and of the barony; and whether he will state if there is any other barony in Ireland rated so highly for those purposes.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The total amount which was paid by the ratepayers of Kerry, from 31st March, 1895, to 31st March, 1905, for railway and harbour guarantees is £165,458 13s. 5d. The total amount similarly paid by the barony of Corkaguiny is £31,575 17s. 2d. The total valuation of the county for the year to 31st March, 1905, is £308,445 5s., and of the barony £26,110 18s. The total amount paid by the county for the same purposes during the year ended March, 1905, is £11,932 4s. 8d., the average rate per pound on the valuation being 9.32d. The amount similarly paid by the barony is £2,365 5s. 8d., an average of 21.87d. on its valuation. In all these cases deductions have been made of amounts received for refund under Section 58 (4), Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898. The Local Government Board believe that no other barony is rated so highly for the purposes mentioned.