asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the increase from £31,035 in 1933/34 to £516,254 in 1934/35 (page 146 of the Statistical Abstract, 1937) in the matter of estate duties (payments under Section 17 (1) of the Finance Act, 1907) paid from the Guarantee Fund into the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Estate Duties.
The increase is explained by the fact that in 1934/35 special Votes, one for £300,000 and one for £250,000, were taken to enable payments to be made to local authorities on foot of local taxation grants which were absorbed in the Guarantee Fund in meeting arrears of land purchase annuities subsequently funded under the Land Act, 1933. The sum of £516,254 referred to in the question includes £512,254 for Estate Duty Grant in respect of the years prior to 1933/34, which it became possible to release to local authorities as a result of these Votes.