§ Mr. DUFFYTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Galway County Council issued circulars to rate collectors of the county on 6th November, 1907, requesting them to forward claims for refunds of irrecoverable rates under Article 92 of the Public Bodies Order of 1904, and that a promise was given last year that precautions would be taken by which rate collectors would suffer no hardship through the enforcement of the Public Bodies Order; and whether, seeing that irrecoverable amounts lodged for the half-year ending 30th September last to the credit of the county council have not yet been refunded, he will give instructions to have collectors promptly refunded irrecoverable amounts and paid their poundage in future without unnecessary delay.
(Answered by Mr. Cherry.) I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer to his Question of 9th May, 1907 on this subject. The Local Government Board inform me that it is the fact that the Galway County Council issued circulars calling attention to the rules regarding irrecoverable rates, as stated in the first part of the Question. The county secretary has stated that he is not aware that any promise on the subject was made to the rate collectors. The Local Government Board are not prepared to give the council any such instructions as are suggested in the Question. Under the council's management the collection of the rates in the county has this year been most satisfactory, and in the circumstances the Board will not interfere with the council's arrangements, or do anything to lessen their authority over the collectors.