§ DR. KENNY (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the following stations under the control of the Board of Irish Lights are not relieving stations—namely, the Maidens, Rock-a-bill, the Tearaght Light, the Skelligs, and the Beer's Rock; whether he is aware that, in consequence of not being allowed to keep a boat, the keepers and their families are practically living 906 in almost complete isolation, their children unable to get to any school or to any place of worship, and, in case of sudden illness, to procure medical relief; and whether he will take steps to induce the Board of Irish Lights to make the aforesaid stations relieving stations, which could be done at small expense and trouble, and thus redress the grievances of which the keepers of those stations complain?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA,) Sheffield, BrightsideI must refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to similar questions asked by the hon. Member for North Louth on the 28th February last, and by the hon. Member for South Westmeath on the 30th ultimo. The Commissioners of Irish Lights are quite alive to the desirability of making some of the more exposed lighthouses relieving stations whenever they can properly do so with due regard to the interests of the Service,
§ MR. JOHNSTONI hope the right hon. Gentleman will give early and careful attention to this matter.
§ DR. KENNYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some cases, in the event of that sudden illness, there are absolutely no means of communicating with the mainland?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI can only say that the whole subject is now before the Irish Lights Commissioners.