§ Mr. KEATINGasked the Chief Secretary if he will state the amount for each of the five unions in county Kilkenny of grants from Government sources received by them in aid of local taxation in the years 1896 and 1908 respectively, and the amount levied by local taxation, namely county cess and poor rate, for the year 1896, and the consolidated rate for the year, respectively?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe changes entailed by the Local Government Act of 1898 make it impossible to give an answer to this question which would be satisfactory to the hon. Member and not open to misconception. For example, there is no means of apportioning the grants made in 1896 between the parts of the Unions of Callan and Urlingford within and without the county. Moreover, certain duties and grants have been transferred from boards of guardians to district councils, while the county cess was not collected by unions but by baronies.