HC Deb 08 May 1890 vol 344 cc466-7
MR. STOREY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any projects under "The Light Railways (Ireland) Act, 1889,"have yet been agreed to by the Treasury; if so, which, and what amount in each case of public money is to be given, and what lent?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The time required to carry out the procedure required by the Light Railways Acts of 1883 and 1889 has rendered it impossible finally to conclude any arrangement. Progress has been made with the detailed examination of plans and other preliminaries concerning a mileage of railway more than sufficient to absorb all the money available; and some schemes are in a very forward state indeed.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Will any opportunity be afforded for discussion in this House before the money is granted, or will the decision of the Treasury be the first intimation we have of what money is granted, or what schemes have been approved?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not think that any opportunity will be afforded to this House for discussing schemes. As the hon. and learned Member is aware, every scheme has already been threshed out in an elaborate manner in this House and before the Grand Juries.

MR. STOREY

Is one of the schemes in Galway?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not think that anything will be gained by dwelling upon particular instances.