§ MR. KETTLEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in how many cases have applications been made to the Local Government Board in Ireland for grants from the Parliamentary Vote under the Unemployed Workman Act; what grants have been made; and how many applications have been refused or postponed.
§ MR. BIRRELLGrants from the Parliamentary Vote in aid of expenses 130 under the Unemployed Workman Act can only be made to distress committees duly constituted under the Act. Applications have been received by the Local Government Board for such grants from the following districts in which committees have been, or are being, formed: Dublin, Belfast, Londonderry, Limerick, Drogheda, Kingstown, Ennis. The applications from the Dublin and Belfast Committees have been already acceded to. The Board are at present in correspondence with the other local authorities mentioned, with a view to securing sufficient information to enable them to deal with the applications. The Board have also received applications from districts which contain less than the minimum population prescribed for the establishment of separate distress committees under the Act. These applications cannot be entertained.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWhy has not the application from Ennis been granted?
§ MR. BIRRELLWe are supplying Ennis with the materials which will enable them to make out a case which I hope will receive ready acceptance.
§ MR. KETTLEDoes the responsibility for making the grant rest with the Irish Local Government Board or the Treasury?
§ MR. BIRRELLWith the Treasury.