§ MR. ERRINGTONasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the works for the Drainage of the Upper Shannon, especially at Taghmon, for which the Estimates have already been passed, have as yet been begun; and, if not, whether he will consider the importance of proceeding with them at 525 once, so as to guard against further floods?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHSir, in answer to the Question of my hon. Friend, I may say that the works authorized for the drainage of the Upper Shannon are now only being proceeded with at one point—Meelick—where a new cut in the line of the old is being excavated. The works proposed at the other points consist in the insertion of sluices into the weirs, seven in number. The plans and specifications for those sluices have now been completed, and tenders for their construction will very shortly be called for. Every effort will be made to expedite the works; but prudence requires that they should be commenced at the lower end of the district, and carried out consecutively upwards.