§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the total 1685W amount to the present date repaid to the Treasury under the various Labourers Acts in Ireland in the form of sinking fund; and whether there is any and, if so, what objection to utilise such money for fresh advances to meet the pressing demand for more cottages?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe amount of principal repaid to 31st, March, 1913, to the Board of Works in respect of advances made by that Department prior to 1906 under the Labourers Acts is £774,595 and has been paid over to the National Debt Commissioners for the credit of the Local Loans Fund, from which the advances were made. These moneys could only be utilised for the purpose of further advances—if any power of the Board of Works to lend remained in existence—on the same terms as other advances from the Local Loans Fund,i.e., on terms less favourable to borrowers than those granted by the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, 1906 to 1911. The amount of principal repaid to 31st March, 1913, to the Irish Land Commission in respect of advances made by that Department under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, 1906 to 1911, is £10,456 13s. 3d., and has been paid to the Land Purchase Fund, from which the advances were made. This sum of £10,456 13s. 3d. is available for further advances subject to the total limit of the advances from the Land Purchase Fund fixed by the Labourers Acts not being exceeded.