asked the Minister for Finance to state (a) what steps have been taken to repay the subscriptions made to the Dáil Eireann Loan (Internal) 1919/20; (b) the total number of subscriptions which have been repaid to date; (c) the total amount of such repayments (including interest); and (d) the cause of the delay in dealing with applications for repayment which have been before his Department for a considerable time.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DÁIL EIREANN LOAN.
SEAMUS O CRUADHLAOICH
Immediately after the passing of the Dáil Eireann Loans and Funds Act, 1924, a special staff was organised in my Department for the purpose of preparing an authentic Register of Subscribers as a preliminary to the repayment of subscriptions. In the months of February and March, 1925, notices were inserted in the Dublin and Cork daily papers and in 43 provincial weekly newspapers setting forth the relevant provisions of the Act, and inviting subscribers to furnish particulars of their names, addresses and amount of subscriptions, together with the official receipts and applications for repayment. A separate branch still exists in my Department for dealing exclusively with the repayment of subscriptions to the Dáil Eireann Internal Loan. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, a special form of Saving Certificate was prepared for issue to subscribers to enable repayment to be effected in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Department of Posts and Telegraphs, in consultation with my Department made detailed arrangements to enable subscribers to obtain repayment through Post Offices.
As regards the second and third part of the Deputy's question, authority has already been given to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs for the issue of Saving Certificates to 63,124 subscribers. These certificates represent an amount, including interest, totalling in the aggregate £316,894 18s. 0d.
As to the fourth part, such delay as has arisen in dealing with applications was due to a number of causes, and was, in the circumstances, unavoidable. In the public notices to which I have referred it was stipulated that applications for repayment should reach my Department not later than the 31st March, 1925, but of approximately 140,000 subscribers only 20,000 applied within the time limit with sufficient particulars to enable their claims to be substantiated. Some 15,000 applications were received from persons who were unable to furnish particulars or evidence which would enable my Department to deal with their claims. In the circumstances, I decided for the time being to waive the time limit fixed for receiving applications, and applications are, in fact, still being received in large numbers. Since repayment of subscriptions commenced on the 1st June last, which was the date fixed by the Act, there has been a heavy influx of fresh applications; during the last three months of 1927, no less than 35,400 communications were received in connection with the loan.
Thousands of applications have been received from persons who subscribed in the pre-Truce period to various funds such as the fund for Volunteer Dependents and the Anti-Conscription Fund, in respect of which there is no provision for repayment. In many of these cases it is only after considerable correspondence that the facts become clear and applications of this kind inevitably retard the process of dealing with applications from persons who in fact subscribed to the Loan.
Another cause of delay arises from the fact that certain original records prepared by local collectors were not furnished to my Department. In some cases I am informed that such records are not available, but there are also cases in which persons who would be in a position to assist my Department in connection with the identification of subscriptions have refused to furnish such assistance.
Is the Minister in a position to tell us what steps, if any, have been taken for the repayment of the External Loan, 1919?
The Deputy had better put down a question on the matter.