§ MR. ESSEXI beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) how much of the last Vote granted to the Board of Agriculture and Techincal Education (Ireland) was devoted to the sole furtherance of Irish agricultural interests.
§ MR. BIRRELLIf the hon. Member is referring to the Department's Endowment Fund, established under Sections 15 and 16 of the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899, the present sum available for agricultural purposes as defined in Section 30 of that Act is £106,000, all of which is practically devoted to the furtherance of Irish agricultural interests. If, on the other hand, he is alluding to the annual Parliamentary Vote for the Department, it is obvious that it would not be possible accurately 1703 to state what amount thereof is solely devoted to those interests.