§ Mr. CLANCYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on his recent visit to Dublin, the chairman of the Road Board invited representatives of the Corporation to meet him, or agreed to receive such representatives, for the purpose of discussing the exclusion of boroughs from the benefit of the Road Fund, and did meet them for that purpose; whether, after having listened to them, he informed them that the Road Board had already arrived at their decision and would not alter it; and whether he acted in the matter with the concurrence of the other members of the Board?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Road Board, at the request of the Corporation of Dublin, agreed to receive representatives for the purpose of conferring with them as to 2375W application made by the corporation for advances out of the Road Improvement Fund. At the Conference the Chairman of the Board, after hearing the representatives of the corporation, informed them that the Board were not prepared to make any grant to the Corporation of Dublin at the present time. The Board have concurred in this decision.
§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury is responsible for the fixing of the small sum proposed to be allotted to Ireland under the Road Improvement Act; whether he has received representations of protest from Irish public bodies on the subject; and what action does he propose to take in reference thereto?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Road Board have allocated for the purpose of Irish grants a sum of approximately £150,000 out of the estimated amount of the Road Improvement Fund up to the 31st March, 1912, and the Board propose out of the sum so allocated to make grants towards approved schemes of road improvement in Ireland. All such grants will be subject to the approval of the Treasury. Representations have been received from some Irish public bodies expressing dissatisfaction with the amount allocated to Ireland. No action is proposed to be taken in reference thereto.