§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Treasury propose to insist on the immediate repayment of £5,500 for the revaluation expenses incurred re Dublin City; and whether he will arrange that this amount shall be payable by instalments spread over a reasonable period in view of the fact that the work took eight years to accomplish?
§ Mr. DUKEThe proportion of the total net cost of the revaluation of Dublin payable by the corporation is £5,532 12s. This liability was voluntarily incurred by the corporation under Section 60 of the Dublin Corporation Act, 1900. The work of revaluation extended over several years. In 1906 the corporation were asked to undertake to repay their moiety of the cost by instalments as the work proceeded, but they declined to do this, and the whole amount therefore fell due on completion of the work. Upon representations made to the Irish Office by the corporation and duly discussed by the Irish Office with the Treasury, it has been decided to accept repayment of the debt in two years. A portion amounting to £3,000 has been paid by deduction from the share of moneys payable to the corporation out of the local taxation account, and the balance will be paid during the next financial year.