§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Section 52 (2) of The Irish Land Act, 1909, providing for the grant of pensions or gratuities to officers in the employment of the Congested Districts Board, has not yet been made effective: whether a number of the staff have died in the meantime and others, for reasons of age and health, will shortly have to retire; that a number relinquished pensionable appointments in other branches of the Civil Service in the belief that the section referred to would be made applicable to them without delay; and whether steps will be taken at once to deal with this matter?
§ Mr. BALDWINI would refer the hon. Member to the answer of the 8th July last to a question addressed by the hon. Member for Falls (Mr. Devlin). The Treasury have not subsequently received any intimation that the Congested Districts Board are prepared to satisfy the condition laid down by the Treasury, namely, that an annual sum should be set aside from their funds sufficient to meet the prospective charges for superannuation.