The Irish Sailors' and Soldiers' Land Trust was established in 1922-23 to provide houses for Irish exservicemen who fought in the First World War. The trust is made up of five members, one of whom is appointed by the Taoiseach. The others are appointed by the British Government. Lord Killanin has been the Taoiseach's nominee since 1955.
The number of beneficiaries both in the State and in Northern Ireland has been declining. The Irish and British Governments agreed in 1986 to proposals from the trust for the repayment of funds, in proportions based on the original contributions of the two Governments. Legislation in Ireland and in Britain gave effect to the agreement reached.
The main provision of the Irish Sailors' and Soldiers' Land Trust Act, 1988, allows for the acceptance and disposal of any money payable to the Irish Government by the trust. The Act stipulates that such money shall be disposed of "for the purposes of such projects or undertakings (including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution) involving co-operation between the State and Northern Ireland or the State and Great Britain or relating to the island of Ireland as a whole as the Taoiseach may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, determine".
A total of £2.650 million has been received from the trust — £2.354 million in 1988 and £295,000 in mid-November, 1992. All but £50 of this has been allocated and spent.
It cannot be stated at this point when the trust will be winding up. There are legal issues being considered by the trust with regard to indemnification on dissolution. If the trust is wound up, a further allocation of money will be made to the Irish Exchequer. The amount that would be available is not yet known.
