HC Deb 18 July 1910 vol 19 cc868-9
Mr. CULLINAN

asked the Chief Secretary whether, seeing that under The Probate Duties (Scotland and Ireland) Act, 1888, county councils in Ireland were entitled to a grant out of the produce of the Probate Duties in proportion to the amounts paid out of county cess on roads and bridges in the year 1887, that the Local Government Board for Ireland had certified that the amount paid out of the county cess on roads and bridges in the South Riding of county Tipperary during the year 1887 was £17,964, and that the county council of the South Riding of the county Tipperary had, through their officials, represented to the Local Government Board for Ireland that the sum of £17,964, as certified, was substantially too small, and that the South Riding of county Tipperary was, consequently, suffering a wrong in the allocation of the Grant, he would direct the Local Government Board to examine into the expenditure on roads and bridges in county Tipperary, South Riding, in the year 1887, and to issue a new certificate setting forth the amount correctly; and whether, in case there was a difference of opinion between the figures of the Local Government Board and those of the county council, the former would submit their calculations to the county council?

Mr. BIRRELL

The amount certified as having been expended on roads and bridges by the grand jury of the South Riding of county Tipperary in 1887, and paid out of county cess was ascertained more than twenty years ago in the manner prescribed for all the counties in Ireland. The Local Government Board see no reason either to doubt the accuracy of the amount certified or to reopen the matter after such a lapse of time.

Mr. CULLINAN

In view of the importance of the matter to the county council, will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for the Local Government Board to consider the matter in connection with the county council?

Mr. BIRRELL

I think that, after the lapse of time, and seeing that the matter applies to all the counties in Ireland, it would be unwise to reopen an account, as to the accuracy of which there is no doubt.