asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether the expenditure of the Limerick County Council functioning from 1920 to 1925 exceeded its receipts, and, if so, (a) whether such excess was greater or less than a quarter of a million pounds, and by how much; (b) what preventive or corrective measures were adopted by the Department during such period to check such administration; (c) what was the financial situation, in form of balance-sheet or equivalent, of the Limerick County Council as at the end of March, 1925; and (d) what steps has the Department since taken for the relief of the ratepayers from such situation, and what measures, if any, are now proposed.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LIMERICK COUNTY COUNCIL ACCOUNTS.
From inquiries made from the County Council the excess of expenditure over receipts for the period 1920-1925 was £142,078. From this figure there must, however, be deducted the sum of £47,632, being the total amount of rates uncollected at 31st March, 1925. The Department has no statutory authority to apply preventive or corrective measures to the administration other than the measures concerning audit of the accounts and the powers conferred in Section 72 of the Local Government Act of 1925. As regards the third portion of the question the excess of cash liabilities over cash assets on 31st March, 1925, was £59,993. The impasse caused in the affairs of the Council is receiving the anxious consideration of the Council, who are acting energetically in the matter under legal advice. I am satisfied that everything possible will be done by them to retrieve at the earliest possible moment the unusual situation which has been created, and the Department will co-operate with the Council in every way possible.
Did the Minister peruse the table in the inspector's report at the recent sworn inquiry, setting out the expenditure and receipts of the Council?
I have seen the table included in the report.