§ MR. HAYDENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in consequence of a difference of opinion between the Local Government Board and the Local Board of Guardians, the town of Roscommon has been left for several years without a proper supply of water, to the great danger of the public health, as well as to the existence of the town; whether he is aware that seven years ago, a fire occurred in the town, which, owing to the want of a water supply, could not be extinguished until damage to the extent of several thousand pounds had been caused, over £5,000 of the amount having to be borne by the public rates; whether the ratepayers of the town have on various occasions expressed themselves in favour of the obtaining of a good water supply; whether, pending the dispute between these two bodies, over which the ratepayers have no adequate control, the town of Roscommon is to be left without a water supply; and, whether any steps will be taken in the matter?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Local Government Board are fully sensible of the importance of the matter, and the statements in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the question are substantially correct. The delay has arisen from the Guardians, who are the Sanitary Authority in Roscommon, desiring to make the whole 1448 Union of Roscommon contribute to the cost which would involve the levying of a rate upon persons who live eight miles away and who would derive no benefit from the water supply. This is not approved by the Local Government Board, who proposed to make it a charge on the electoral division of Roscommon, which embraces the town and a surrounding area of from two to three miles. The responsibility rests entirely with the Guardians.
§ MR. HAYDENIs the town of Roscommon to be left without water pending an agreement between these two bodies?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Local Government Board do not propose to enter into any agreement.