§ MR. MORROGH (Cork, S.E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the great distress at present existing in the districts surrounding Tracton, County Cork, he could see his way to give relief by issuing instructions to the Board of Works or the Local Authorities to immediately proceed to complete the road from Minane Bridge, through Gurtygrenane, to Glownroe; and is he aware that this work will be rendered necessary on account of the new bridge about to be erected over the Minane River at Ringabella, and therefore may be classed as a useful and reproductive work?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am unable to give any directions of the kind required.
§ MR. KILBRIDE (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what steps have been taken for the relief of distress along the seaboard from Cahirciveen to Kenmare; whether he is aware that a deputation of 300 labourers from the Ballinskelligs district, a locality remote from the facilities of the railway works, waited on the Cahirciveen Board of Guardians to demand work or relief; and whether the attention of the Government has been directed to the advisability of constructing a pier at Ballinskelligs which would give employment to the starving people of the district, and tend to develop the local fishery?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURCareful attention is being given to the condition of the district referred to. The hon. Member is not, perhaps, aware that relief works are in progress in the district.
§ MR. MORROGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant 684 of Ireland whether he has received resolutions passed by a large and representative meeting held in Bandon on the 10th instant, which meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the Town Commissioners, and attended by the Dean of Cork and several clergymen of different denominations; and whether, in view of the present and further apprehended distress, as set forth in the resolutions, he will give immediate attention to the requests contained in the said resolutions?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI must ask the hon. Gentleman to defer the question until to-morrow.
§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenent of Ireland what works under the Relief of Distress Act are now proceeding in the County of Galway; and, particularly, can he state if any works are in progress in the baronies of Clare, Dunmore, and Ballymoe?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURRelief works are in progress in the following Electoral Divisions of Clifden Union:—Ballynakill, Renoyle, Innishboffin, Bunowen, Roundstone, Skannive, and Knockboy; about 950 labourers were employed on the various works in these Divisions on the 7th inst. In the Outerarde Union there are works in progress in the Electoral Divisions of Lettermore, Gorninna, and Crumpour, and on the 7th inst. about 2,450 labourers were employed on these works. In the Galway portion of Ballinrobe Union there are works in the Divisions of Owenbrin and Ballinchalla, affording employment to about 250 labourers on the 7th inst. In the Galway Union work has been commenced on the Cloosh Road and Arran Island, but the Returns are not complete as to the amount of labour. Works are about to be commenced in the Tuam Union, which embraces the entire of Dunmore barony and portion of the barony of Clare. The question of the necessity for works in Ballymoe barony is under consideration. In addition to above works, the Galway and Clifden Railway affords employment to from 800 to 1,000 people.