The next Estimate I have to move is the Ireland Development Grant—£159,500. I move that. I may explain, in this connection, that there is a sum of £20,000 paid to the Congested Districts Board under this Vote out of the payments mandatory under the existing law; that is Section 38 of the Land Act. Until the law is altered this grant must be given. It has, in fact, already been paid for the current financial year. The Dáil must understand that these payments are not taken out of any disrespect to it, but in the ordinary way of administration of business. Certain of these charges become payable at certain times, and in the ordinary course of business the Vote will be asked for early in the year instead of waiting. That is as regards the £20,000. Now, as regards the £5,000. That is in respect of a certain sum levied each year under the Land Act of 1903 to provided a fund for ensuring, I think Trinity College, whatever income was derived by the College out of lands possessed by them previous to the passing of the Land Act of 1903. Now, as regards the £134,500, that is in respect of the interest on what is called Excess Stock, that is, when the price of money is increased, and when more stock had to be issued, in order to provide for cash payments to persons selling their land, the interest on the Excess Stock had to be provided from some source and the greater part of that sum is paid over to the Guarantee Fund in order to make up the interest on the Excess Stock. This matter of Excess Stock is at present under consideration between the English and the Irish Governments. We are claiming that it is not a liability which can morally be put on our shoulders, that they have the responsibility of it, that the Land Acts and the Land Stock are chargeable to us in respect of lands for which tenants are paying interest, and that sums over and above that are not properly chargeable to us. This particular vote may be affected by a discussion, and if the money were not required for Excess Stock it would be applicable to purposes of education or economic development or transport facilities, or some other service of that sort. But this particular vote is simply an Administration Vote in so far as it supplies funds for certain statutory obligations that are placed on the Provisional Government.
DAIL IN COMMITTEE ON THE ESTIMATES. - IRELAND DEVELOPMENT GRANT.
I would like to say, at this stage, that this particular Fund was a Fund which originally belonged to Education. It arose in this way. In 1902-3, under the Education Act passed, the Estimates for education in England were considerably increased. Ireland's share on the equivalent grant basis would have been £185,000, and properly speaking, that £185,000 should have gone at that time to Irish education. The Land Bill of 1903 came on, however, and the Government of the day, with the acquiescence of our representatives at the time, laid hold of this particular grant in order to help to finance the Land Act. Some small grants were made from this Fund for other purposes—a few light railways were built here and there, and this £5,000 was given to Trinity College. I understand that there was some £50,000 given to education. Now I just mention this in order to say that if and when there is anything to be got out of this Vote it will be remembered what its origin was and that education will have the first claim on any balance or surplus that may remain.
Motion made and question put: "That the Dáil in Committee, having considered the Estimate for Ireland Development Grant in 1922-3, and having passed a Vote on Account of £159,500 for the period to the 6th December, 1922, recommend that the full Estimate of £159,500 for the Financial Year, 1922-23, be adopted in due course by the Oireachtas."
Agreed.
That disposes of the Estimates that have been circulated.
Yes, we report back to the Dáil now.
Before we report back to the Dáil there are certain gaps. When will we get the remainder of the Estimates?
I think about Tuesday week.