§ 12. Mr. LARDNERasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the total sum allocated to Ireland under the Road Board scheme; the amount allocated to each county or local authority; the amounts actually paid to date; will he state the basis on which Ireland's proportion is calculated; whether the original scheme of allocations amongst local authorities in Ireland propounded by the Road Board has been altered in any respect; and, if so, what?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe total sum allocated by the Road Board to Ireland out of the income of the Road Improvement Fund up to the 31st March, 1912, was £203,528. As stated in the first annual Report of the Board, this amount is based on the ratio of the population to Ireland to that of the other parts of the United Kingdom. I will 1706 circulate with the Votes a table showing the amounts granted to the several counties, which are based on the consideration of the applications and circumstances relating to each county. The only scheme propounded by the Board to local authorities in Ireland was a general scheme for dealing with a large mileage of Irish roads, suggested by the chairman for the consideration of Irish county authorities at a meeting held in Dublin on 7th March, 1911, of which a Report is printed in Appendix 15 to the Board's first annual Report. The Board have no knowledge as to whether the Irish County Councils have taken or intend to take any steps to consider the scheme suggested.—[See Written Answers this date.]
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANHow much of the sum allocated has been paid over?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe hon. Gentleman must give me notice.