§ Major NEWMANasked what was the total cost to the State for each of the years ended, respectively, 31st March, 1913, 1914, and 1915, of the Irish Land Commission, including all expenditure under the Land Law Acts and the Land Purchase Acts, and of the Congested Districts Board for Ireland, respectively?
Mr. SAMUELThe net expenditure from the Land Commission Vote in the years ended on 31st March, 1913, 1914, and 1915, was £532,886, £608,410, and £671,390, respectively, of which £306,102, £393,684, and £480,286, respectively, represented moneys required to meet the dividend and sinking fund on the stock issued for the purpose of providing the "Land Purchase Aid Fund"as well as on the56W "Excess Stock."If these latter sums, which are statutory payments, are excluded, the actual expenditure for administrative purposes and for the improvement of estates during the three years mentioned was £226,784, £214,726, and £191,104, respectively. The Congested Districts Board received £231,000 in Parliamentary Grants in each of the same years.