§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether a sum of money was granted by the Department for the building of an agricultural college at Athenry; if so, what is the amount and on what date was it authorised; when is it intended to proceed with the building of this college; and what has been the cause of the delay?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLIn June, 1907, a sum of £10,000 was provisionally allocated by the Department for the erection of an agricultural college at Athenry. Owing to the unsettled state of the district, action in regard to the expenditure of this money was indefinitely postponed, and the Department are unable to say when, if ever, any portion of the said sum will be expended for the purpose for which it was allocated.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agricul- 1452W ture (Ireland) what is the area of the land at the disposal of the Department in connection with the agricultural station at Athenry; how much of it is under tillage and how much under grass; what is the number of live stock, irrespective of premium cattle, which have been disposed of locally and also at the Dublin and English cattle markets; and whether these cattle were disposed of at a profit or a loss?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe area of the farm occupied by the Department at Athenry for the purpose of their agricultural station is 670 acres. At present 250 acres are under rotation crops, 20 are under plantations, 80 are permanent meadow, and the remainder is pasture. The number of live stock, exclusive of premium cattle disposed of at this station, was between 400 and 500 head, including lambs. The Department consider that the financial results from these sales were I not unsatisfactory.