§ MR. HAYDENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Shannon Commissioners constructed a navigable canal, about half a statute mile long, connecting Lough Ree on the Shannon with a substantial landing harbour in the hamlet of Lecarrow, conveniently situated for traders, tourists, and others midway on the public road from Roscommon to Athlone; whether he is aware that this canal, in addition to trade and other purposes, was intended to drain a considerable area adjoining it, but that the silted mud from the drainage of an adjacent railway has been allowed to accumulate in it for several years, to the great danger of grazing cattle on its banks, as well as to the almost complete stoppage of water in the several water cuts in its catchment area; and, whether, in view of the large sums now to be expended on the drainage of the Shannon, Her Majesty's Government will cause this canal to be cleaned up and restored to its former usefulness.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI understand that the Lecarrow Canal was originally constructed by the Shannon Commissioners temporarily and solely for the execution of the works, but was treated for a few years as part of the navigation. There being no traffic it was 1456 abandoned 17 years ago, and is now in a great part choked with weeds, and silted. It is not intended to restore the canal for navigation purposes, but it will be cleaned up, where necessary, for the drainage of the adjoining lands.