§ Mr. SUTHERLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the amount up to date expended or sanctioned by the Congested Districts Board by way of grants and loans to fishermen in Ireland for fishing boats and nets as well as for instruction in fishery matters; the amount repaid; and the probable sum it is intended to spend this year?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board do not make any free grants to fishermen for fishing boats and nets. The loans made for these purposes from 1891 to the present time amount approximately to £172,822, or on an average £9,000 a year. Of this amount a sum of £121,974 has been repaid, a further sum of £21,336 has been written off owing to the wrecking of boats or the insolvency of borrowers, and the outstanding balance of £35,000 approximately is being, and will be, put into course of collection as repayment falls due; £58,772 has been spent upon "instruction in fishing." In some cases the Board required those receiving instruction to con tribute towards the cost of instruction, and a sum of £7,968 has been recovered under this head. A sum of £20,000 for loans for fishery purposes and a sum of £6,000 for instruction in fishing have been estimated for during the year 1911–12.