§ MR. ERRINGTONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the dilapidated condition of the Ballyconnell Canal, and of the various works connected with it; and if he can state who is responsible for the due application of the presentment annually raised for maintaining the Canal; and, whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to why the swing bridge at Lanesborough has been allowed to remain for more than 12 months out of repair, and 1036 generally as to the bad state of the buoys and beacons on the Upper Shannon, with the view to having them put in proper repair?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHAll the matters referred to in the hon. Member's Question are under the control of the Board of Works in Ireland, which is a department of the Treasury, and not responsible to the Irish Government. But I am informed by the Board of Works that steps are about to be taken to repair the Ballyconnell embankment; that the trustees who represent the counties of Cavan, Leitrim, and Roscommon are responsible for the due application of the presentment annually raised for maintaining the canal; that the swing-bridge at Lanesborough has been allowed to remain for some time out of repair because the small funds available for the repairs on the Upper Shannon navigation were more required for other works, but that it will be repaired this summer;and that the buoys and beacons on the Upper Shannon were much injured by last winter's floods, but have by this time been replaced.