asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the Irish Land Commission has informed the Galway County Council that the total net arrears drawn from the Guarantee Fund in respect of Land Purchase Arrears, including arrears in respect of advances made under the Labourers Acts in the County of Galway, amounted on the 31st January, 1923, to £37,494 19s 7d, that of this sum £23,297 4s. 11d. had been recovered up to the 12th May, 1923, leaving a sum of £14,197 14s. 8d. outstanding, of which £501 7s 9d has been declared uncollectable; whether he can state the amount of arrears that have been paid since the 12th May, 1923, what steps were taken to recover the amount as described as uncollectable, and whether the County Council has been furnished with a list of the defaulters who owe this sum of £501 7s 9d.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LAND PURCHASE ARREARS IN GALWAY.
Mr. O'HIGGINS (replying for Minister for Agriculture)
The Land Commission furnished to the County Council of Galway on the 25th May last the figures given in the first part of the question. These figures were up to and including the November-December 1922 Gale. Allowing for the payments since received and including the arrears of the succeeding May-June 1923 Gale, the arrears up to and including that gale were £15,130 on the 31st ultimo. These arrears are being recovered by legal proceedings, and have since been reduced by the sums recovered by State Solicitor.
The sum referred to in the concluding part of the question represents old arrears which the Land Commission failed to recover on the disposal of defaulters' holdings to new purchasers who only became liable for the annuities as from date of their acquiring the lands.
Mr. COSGRAVE
Will the Minister state whether the County Council has been furnished with a list of the defaulters who owe this £501 7s. 9d.?
Mr. O'HIGGINS
I will ask the Minister that question, and perhaps he will write to the Deputy on the subject.