asked the President if his attention has been drawn to a booklet published by Major H. Lefroy, P.C., entitled "History of Sailors and Soldiers Irish Land Trust, 1915-1925"; if he is aware that it is stated by Major Lefroy that £1,500,000 was promised by the British Government to complete the building of houses in Ireland, and that the Trust accepted the sum of £1,250,000, which was later increased by £50,000; that Major Lefroy further states that when the Treaty came into force the British Government curtailed the number of houses to be provided to an arbitrary number of 3,600 odd for all Ireland, and, if having regard to this, he will make representations to the British Government with a view to having the balance stated to be due made available.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SAILORS AND SOLDIERS IRISH LAND TRUST.
My attention has been drawn to the publication referred to. I understand that the sum of £200,000, which is the difference between the sums mentioned in the question, represented liabilities which had been incurred on 1st January, 1924, when the Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust commenced to function. The number of houses to be provided under the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act, 1919, had been fixed at 3,672 before the Treaty.
Mr. BYRNE
In view of the statement made by Major Lefroy that there are £200,000 still owing, and in view of the fact that a number of foundations of soldiers' houses have been laid in very many parts of the country and no effort made to continue them in the past few years, will the President see that something is done to have the houses built that foundations were laid for?
It is not part of my responsibility. The Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust is the body responsible. They are not under my jurisdiction and I have no authority or power over them.
Mr. BYRNE
Will the President take steps to contradict the statement that it was after the signing of the Treaty that this change took place whereby the Trust refused to spend the original sum on housing?
It may have been after the signing of the Treaty that the function of providing the houses devolved upon a body which was not responsible to the Government of this country, but other than that there is no responsibility—it is not a responsibility of mine or of the Government.
Was the Trust in existence at the signing of the Treaty?
No.