§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)I wish to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the statement is correct which has appeared in the Irish papers, to the effect that the-Treasury have decided to give a free grant under the provisions of the Light Railways Act of last Session, to the proposed line from Donegal to Killybegs, in priority to the other lines recommended by the Commissioners appointed under that Act, and passed with guarantees for working expenses by the Grand Jury of the County of Donegal; whether this is the line which the Royal Commission on Irish Public Works reported against at page 40 of their Report; whether this is the line promoted by Mr. James Barton, C.E., and reported upon by Mr. James Price, C.E.; and whether, as a matter of fact, it presents engineering defects similar to, but very much worse, than the line from Galway to Clifden promoted by Mr. Price, and favourably reported upon by Mr. Barton, but which the Midland Great Western Railway Company decline to work, owing to those defects?
§ ME. JACKSONI am not in a position to say that the Treasury have decided to give a free grant to the proposed line from Donegal to Killybegs,. but this is one of the lines recommended for a free grant. It will probably be necessary to decide as regards particular lines before the decision as to all the lines to be aided can be arrived at. The Report of the Royal Commission dealt with routes rather than lines, and, there-I fore, does not apply to this line. The Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry was General Hutchinson.
§ MR. CLANCYIs it a fact that a scheme promoted by Mr. Price was favourably reported upon and decided by 523 Mr. Barton. Can the hon. Gentleman state?
§ MR. JACKSONNo, Sir; I cannot answer that question.
§ MR. CLANCYWill the hon. Gentleman give us any information on the subject? This matter has been before the House several times, and we have been informed that there are several Commissioners employed in investigating the lines. Is it the fact that the decision in each case practically rests with the engineering member of the Commission?
§ MR. JACKSONNo, Sir.
§ MR. CLANCYIs it not the fact that Mr. George Morris, of the Local Government Board in Ireland, informed some of the promoters of the lines in Galway that the other members of the Commission were merely there as advisers to the engineering member of the Commission, who has the whole thing in his hands?
§ MR. JACKSONI have no knowledge of it.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar)When are the Commissioners likely to give us a general Report on these lines? I know it takes a long time. Can the hon. Gentleman say when we will have the Report?
§ MR. JACKSONNo, Sir.
§ MR. PINKERTONI wish to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that a Memorial had been presented by the clergy of Connemara, and resolutions passed unanimously by the Grand Jury of the county, by the Grand Jury of the county of the town, and by the Town Commissioners of Galway, in favour of steps being taken by the Government to insure the early construction of the line of railway from Galway to Clifden (approved by the Royal Commission), he will use his influence to prevent any further delay in commencing this work of public utility?
§ MR. JACKSONCertainly, Sir; I will use any influence I have to prevent unnecessary delay in arriving at a decision as to the Galway and Clifden Railway.