§ Mr. MacCAWasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from what source the Local Taxation Account (Ireland) is supplied with funds, and what is the cause of the falling off in its resources, which has necessitated a reduction in the capitation Grant towards the cost of maintenance of pauper lunatics in Irish asylums?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe sources of income as well as a full statement of the annual receipts and payments in respect of the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account are set out in detail in the Returns presented annually to Parliament in pursuance of Section 59 (2) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898. The Grants to local authorities in respect of the lunatic poor are paid from the branch of the account established under Section 58 (1) (a) (b) of that Act. Prior to the year 1910–11 the receipts of this branch, supplemented by available balances in current and deposit accounts, were sufficient to discharge in full the liabilities of the account. In 1910–11, however, the balances so available were of small amount, and the income of the account was insufficient to enable it to meet its liabilities in full, and it became necessary in consequence to make a proportionate abatement, under the provisions of Section 58 (5) of the Act of 1898, of the payments to local authorities. The same course has been adopted in 1911–12 and 1912–13.