§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of the accumulated balance of local taxation under Section 58 of The Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898; and whether it is proposed to use this balance for the relief of baronies paying high charges for railway guarantees by paying all the charges over sixpence in the £.
§ THE ATTORNEY - GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. CHERRY, Liverpool, Exchange)The accumulated balance, now in an interest-bearing deposit account in the Bank of Ireland, amounts to 656 £75,320. I may remind the hon. Member that the Local Taxation Account already provides relief to local areas in respect of railway and harbour charges. Under Sub-section of the section quoted in the Question, one-half of the excess of such charges over sixpence in the £ of the rateable value is paid out of the Local Taxation Account. It is not proposed to apply the accumulated balance in further relief of these charges as suggested.