§ 110. Sir MAURICE DOCKRELLasked the Minister of Transport what sums have been collected in Ireland as duties on motor vehicles for the five months ended 31st May, 1921; and how much of the sums so collected has been allocated to Irish local authorities for repair and upkeep of public roads?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Mr. A. Neal)The total sums collected to 31st May, 1921, in Northern Ireland, i. e., the County Councils of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone, and the County Borough Councils of Belfast and Londonderry, amount to £16,103 1s. 2d. Particulars are not available of amounts collected in the rest of Ireland, where the duties are collected by post offices. No sums have yet been received from the General Post Office in respect of these collections. None of the monies so far collected have yet been allocated to Irish local authorities, but the net proceeds of the duties collected in Ireland are being set aside with a view to their subsequent transfer to the Governments of North and South Ireland respectively.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of the roads in Ireland, owing to the heavy military and other traffic, are in a very bad way, and is he further aware that the Local Government Board of Ireland can distribute this money for repairing the roads? I would also like to know if it is intended to hang up this fund until there is a Parliament for the whole of Ireland; if so, that will mean that it will be relegated to the Greek kalends?
§ Mr. NEALNo, Sir; it is not intended to hang it up until the Greek kalends. I am aware that some of the roads in Ireland are in want of repair, but the money already collected would not do much to repair them.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLEven that little would do something.