§ Mr. CLANCYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings of the Irish General Council of the county councils in the matter of the action of the Roads Board in the administration of the funds placed at its disposal; whether he is aware that general dissatisfaction exists in Ireland with the amount of money allocated to Ireland for the improvement of roads and with the scheme adopted by the Board; whether the Board came to its decision in defiance of the views of the local authorities; whether a copy of the speech delivered by the chairman of the Board at a recent conference in Dublin, which was held in the absence of the Press, was sent for publication in the Irish newspapers, while the many protests which it evoked were concealed from the public; and whether the Government propose to take any, and, if so, what, action in the matter?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am aware that the General Council of Irish County Councils and several persons in Ireland have expressed dissatisfaction with the amount which the Road Board propose to allocate from the Road Improvement Fund for the purpose of grants towards works of road improvement in Ireland up to 31st March, 1912. The scheme, which was indicated by the chairman of the Board at a conference with representatives of Irish County Councils in Dublin on the 7th March, 1911, was described by him as a suggestion for the consideration of county councils and the Board have no intention of adopting the scheme unless it is generally approved by county councils. No report of the proceedings at the conference1948W was issued, but the chairman's speech was communicated to the Press as the official announcement of the scheme suggested by the Board for consideration. The Government do not propose to take any action in the matter.