§ MR. J. MACVEAGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the further figures recently published, he can now state precisely the total amount received by the Department of Agriculture since its establishment, from Parliamentary grants, endowment, and all other sources, with the rate per head of the present population, and the total amount expended.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe total amount received by the Department of Agriculture since its establishment is £2,507,646, including £185,000 paid over to the Congested Districts Board. Excluding the latter sum, the amount is equivalent to an annual rate of Is. 6d. per head of the present population of Ireland. The unexpended balances of the Parliamentary 62 Vote surrendered to the Exchequer during the seven years amounted to £33,510 approximately. The unexpended, balance of the Endowment Fund on 31st ultimo was £383,054, of which £125,124 is earmarked for the purposes specified under Section 15 (c) and Section 16 (1) (a) to (f) of the Agriculture and Technical. Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899. The balance has been allocated by the Agricultural Board for agricultural purposes under the terms of Section 16 (g) of the same Act. The amount actually expended, excluding the sum paid over to the Congested Districts Board, was £1,916,082.