§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Secretary to the Treasury what Grants have been made or indicated by the Road Board for expenditure in Ireland up to date; whether all these Grants have been made in respect of main roads; whether any and, if so, what free loans and loans on interest have been made for expenditure in Ireland to date; and whether any money has been granted or lent for the purchase of road-making machinery in Ireland?
§ Mr. MASTERMANGrants to the aggregate of £144,236 have been indicated by the Road Board to highway authorities in Ireland, and of this amount Grants aggregating £86,203 have been formally made to date. The Board have also indicated loans, all free of interest, to the amount of £25,030, of which £9,376 has been accepted by the authorities concerned. There are only approximately 6,800 miles of main roads out of a total mileage of 55,690 miles of road in Ireland, and the Board have not confined their Grants to these main roads. No advances by way of Grant or loan have been made to highway authorities in Ireland for the purchase of road-making machinery.
§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Secretary to the Treasury in what manner it is proposed to administer the fund of the Road Board in Ireland; whether the Board proposes to establish an office in Ireland or whether its functions in Ireland will be exercised from the office in London; whether the Board has any staff directly engaged in Ireland or whether it proposes to employ any officers in Ireland under its direct control; and will he state what the present staff is or what staff is proposed to be employed?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Road Board do not propose to establish an office in Ireland but to conduct the whole of their administrative work from their office in London. The Board have at the present time two engineering inspectors engaged on work in Ireland and the number will be increased as and when addtional inspectors may be required.