asked the Minister for Finance if representations were made to him on behalf of the Fermoy Urban Council requesting the payment of £603 in respect of contributions in lieu of rates for the year 1920/21, and if he will state what action he intends to take in the matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - FERMOY URBAN COUNCIL'S CLAIM.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Deputy himself made representations to my Department on behalf of the Fermoy Urban District Council in May last, and a letter was sent to him on the 20th May, 1925, explaining fully the position. In that letter the Deputy was informed that
"In regard to the sum of £600 odd which the Council stated was due to them as balance of their claim for bounty (in lieu of rates) for 1920-21, the Council were informed that no funds were available to the Government for the purpose of making any payments of bounty in respect of any period prior to 1st April, 1922, when the functions of Government were transferred to the Saorstát. There is absolutely no prospect of any further payment being made now to the Council in respect of bounty for the year 1920-21 in excess of the amount which was paid or credited to the Council in that year. You may not be aware that there is no legal liability to pay contribution in lieu of rates on Government property, all such payments being purely ex gratia."
Similar replies to other communications on the same subject were sent as follows:—
(1) To W.J. Magnier, solicitor to the Council, on the 6th July, 1923.
(2) To Mícheal O hAonghusa, T.D., on the 6th July, 1923.
(3) To the Council on the 13th October and 4th November, 1925.
The position has not altered and I do not propose to take any further action in the matter.