§ MR. LEAasked the President of the Board of Trade, If during the last five years plans have been presented for the erection of a new Lighthouse at Fanad Point, and also at other places on the "West Coast of Ireland; if money to the amount of about £45,000 has accumulated towards these works; and, if the Board of Trade will urge upon the Commissioners of Irish Lights the necessity of proceeding with the work at once?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONI have placed myself in communication with the Com- 1436 missioners of Irish Lights on the subject of the Question of the hon. Member. In 1875, plans were submitted by the Commissioners for the substitution of gas lighthouses for the existing oil lighthouses at Fanad Point; but the subject was afterwards postponed by the Commissioners, pending the further development of the electric light. No plans for other places on the West Coast of Ireland have been presented. Neither the Commissioners of Irish Lights nor the Board of Trade are aware of an accumulation of £45,000, or of any other sum, towards the works in question. The hon. Member will see that, having regard to the circumstances under which the Commissioners have suspended their action, it would be for them, whenever they think fit, rather than for the Board of Trade, to urge the matter; particularly as the case is not one of no light, but only of the substitution of one mode of illumination for another.