asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total sum paid to date towards the expenses of the Turf Development Board, Ltd., and the amount paid by way of grants towards the General Peat Development Schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Development Board.
The total sum paid out of the Industry and Commerce Vote towards the expenses of the Turf Development Board, Ltd., is £54,590 7s. 4d. This figure includes expenses of administration and general development, including a sum of approximately £15,000 on account of salaries and expenses of the engineering staff engaged on the survey of the various bogs prior to development, but does not include the cost of sacks, valued at £16,000, which were placed at the disposal of the board on repayment terms. The board has repaid a sum of £2,400 on the proceeds of the sale of turf stocks and the canal barge acquired from the Turraun undertaking.
I presume the last part of the question refers to grants out of relief of unemployment moneys in connection with peat schemes. I am informed that the expenditure under this heading up to 30th June, 1936, amounted to £124,000, and a further sum of £23,500 has been sanctioned for similar works not yet completed.