§ Mr. FLYNNasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been directed to the present financial position of the Local Taxation Account (Ireland); whether the income under Section 58 of the Act of 1898, which amounted to £284,000 in 1899–1900, amounted only to £293,000 in 1907–8 and is now practically inexpensive, whereas the annual expenditure has risen from £251,000 to £307,000 within the same period; whether a considerable portion of this increase comes under the heading of 2144W maintenance of pauper lunatics, which rose from £153,000 to £194,000 within the period indicated and which, in the case of the Cork lunatic asylum, includes additional expenditure owing to the removal of harmless lunatics from the workhouse to the Youghal auxiliary system, a system which other lunatic asylum boards are anxious to adopt; and whether, in view of the fact that an enforcement of Section 58, Subsection (5), of The Local Government Act, 1898, may lead to a serious restriction of the grants for these public services or to an increased demand on local rates, he will state what steps the Irish Government propose to take to place the Local Taxation Account upon a solvent basis?
§ Mr. CHERRYThe hon. Member's figures appear to be accurate. The matter is receiving attention, but I am not in a position at present to add anything to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the question asked by the hon. Member for West Limerick on 17th June last. It is not anticipated that the difficulties to which the hon. Member refers can arise in the immediate future.