asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the total sum which it was calculated was due to the British Government at March 31st, 1926, in respect of loans and advances under the Labourers Acts; (b) the amount of the annual payments made to the british Government in respect of such advances in each of the years 1921 to 1927 inclusive; (c) the amount (if any) now due to the British Government in respect of such advances, and (d) the sum (if any) which is paid annually to the British Government at present in respect of such advances.
Written Answers. - Advances under Labourers Acts.
(a) The total amount outstanding at the 31st March, 1926, in respect of loans under the Labourers Acts made in respect of the Twenty-Six Counties during the British régime was £5,642,235. (b) The amounts (including interest) collected and paid over to the British Government in respect of such loans in the years from 1921-22 to 1925-26 were as follows:—
|
1921-22 |
£160,544 |
|
1922-23 |
£235,517 |
|
1923-24 |
£254,700 |
|
1924-25 |
£292,820 |
|
1925-26 |
£258,807 |
In 1926-27 the amount collected was £281,460 of which £123,253 was in respect of loans made out of the Irish Land Purchase Fund and the balance in respect of loans made out of the Local Loans Fund. The former was paid to the British Government in full; as regards the balance, it is not possible to say what part of it was so paid since, beginning with 1926-27, payments to Britain on foot of loans issued out of the Local Loans Fund were made by means of the annuity of £600,000 under the Financial Agreement of 19th March, 1926. (c) and (d) All liability in respect of these and other loans was discharged under the financial arrangements made with the British Government in 1938.