§ Mr. HAYDENasked whether, in view of the facts that the county councils of Ireland have disapproved of the schema submitted by the Road Board and that the taxes are being paid and the fund accumulating without benefit to anybody, the Road Board will either prepare a new scheme or invite the General Council of County Councils of Ireland to do so?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe county councils of Ireland have not disapproved of any 1843 scheme submitted by the Road Board. At a conference in Dublin in March last the chairman of the Board made some suggestions which he described as made for the consideration of county councils, but the question whether any scheme will be formulated or proposed on the basis of these suggestions is entirely for the county councils, and the Board have no present intention of taking any action in the matter. Grants are being made in Ireland as rapidly as the details of applications can be dealt with.
Captain CRAIGArising out of the answer, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the General Council of County Councils of Ireland only represent Nationalist county councils, which refused to confine themselves to matters relating to the true benefits of Ireland, and constituted themselves a society for promoting Home Rule?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSENo; I am not aware of any such matter.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked whether, amongst the conditions laid clown by the Road Board for grants to Irish county councils, there was one requiring a contribution from the county councils of Ireland; and whether he will state if the Road Board is vested with powers to lay down any such condition?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe grants made by the Road Board towards works of road improvement are contributions in aid of expenditure proposed to be incurred by highway authorities. The amount of the grant in each case is within the discretion of the Road Board, subject to the approval of the Treasury.
§ Mr. LANE-FOXWill the House have an opportunity of discussing this matter?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIt is a matter which can be discussed on the Estimates.