§ 21. Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland with reference to the sum of £727,655 voted in 1911 towards paying rates in Ireland under The Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, how much was allocated to the payment of half the poor rate which before the passing of the said Act was paid by land and house lords in Ireland, distinguishing the amount allocated in respect of each of the latter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe sum mentioned in the Question represents the total amount of the Agricultural Grant, all of which is applied to the relief of rates on agricultural land. Of this sum, £316,730 was applied to the relief of poor rate, and £410,925 was for county cess. The former sum may roughly be taken to represent the benefits derived by owners of land, and the latter to represent the benefit to occupiers from the Agricultural Grant.