§ Mr. LYNCHasked whether complaints have been made by ratepayers in the barony of Moyarta, West Clare, that a railway rate, averaging 1s. in the £, is paid by them; and whether he can state the authority on which this rate is levied?
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§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am informed that no such complaints as those mentioned in the first part of the question have been received by the Board of Public Works, Ireland. From information in the Board's possession it appears that the average rate for the last three years levied on the ratepayers in the barony of Moyarta in respect of the baronial guarantees for the West and South Clare Railways was 1s. 0½d., but under the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, Section 58, Clause 4, half of any excess over 6d. in the £ is recoverable out of the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account, so that the net contribution by the ratepayers in the barony of Moyarta in respect of the railways mentioned may be taken as about 9^d. in the £. The authority on which the rate is levied is the Tramways and Public Companies (Ireland) Act, 1883, and the Acts confining the Orders in Council relating to the West and South Clare Railways, namely, 47–48 Vic, c. ccxvii., and 53–54 Vic, c. ccx.