§ Mr. RONALD M'NEILLasked the Prime Minister whether in the financial estimates upon which the Government of Ireland Bill is based any and what provision was made for the acquisition or construction of public buildings in Ireland for the use of the Irish Parliament and of Irish Government Departments?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe existing Government offices in Ireland, in which are accommodated officers of the services which will devolve on the Irish Government, will be transferred to that Government, and a sum equal to the cost to the 564 Exchequer at the time of the passing of the Act for the erection, maintenance, and repairs of such offices will be included in the transferred sum at the disposal of the Irish Government. That Government will also have a sum—over and above the present cost of Irish services—of £500,000 for three years, reducible in subsequent years, as has been previously explained. It will also have borrowing powers. Any additional sum required for the purposes mentioned in the question could be provided from one or other of these sources.
§ Mr. RONALD M'NEILLHas the right hon. Gentleman considered what proportion of the sum of £500,000 will be required for equipping the new Government with offices, or has the matter been taken into consideration at all?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo doubt it has. I cannot give any specific figures.