§ 69. Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the total amount of the roads Grant allocated to Ireland, and the total amount distributed in Grants to date; if the operations of the Road Board in Ireland are hampered by the division of responsibility for the maintenance of main roads between the county and the rural district councils; and if any steps are under consideration to make the county councils the sole authority over the main roads of the country?
§ Mr. MASTERMANGrants to an aggregate amount of £144,236 have been indicated by the Road Board to highway authorities in Ireland, and the Board are now engaged in selecting and obtaining particulars of other works of improvement, towards which they are prepared to contribute a further sum of about £100,000. The amount actually paid up to 31st March, 1913, in respect of work carried out under Grants was £43,113. In addition, advances by way of loan to an aggregate amount of £9,376 have been indicated and accepted. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative.