HC Deb 07 May 1894 vol 24 cc476-7
MR. T. M. HEALY

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether Lord Iveagh and Lord Annally enjoy the privilege of private entrance from their residences to the Phcenix Park, with free passage for all vehicles through the Park; whether they pay anything for this privilege; when was it granted, and upon what principle; have any other private persons this right; are any such rights granted in English Royal Parks; can a Return be granted showing all privileges and easements of this kind in the Phoenix Park, and also the area of the ground occupied by the military police, polo clubs, and cricket clubs; has it been brought to his notice that the Park roads are not as carefully kept as formerly, and that the wear of the roads is not due to abnormal traffic through the Knockmaroon gate, but to imperfect metalling and gravelling; and were the market gardeners informed by the park keeper that their passes would only be continued up to the 31st of July; if so, was this done by authority?

* THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) Oldham

Lords Annally and Iveagh have the privilege of private entrance to the Park for their private carriages, but for no other vehicle. Passes are issued to both for market and farm carts. Neither Lord Annally nor Lord Iveagh pays anything for the privilege. The privilege of a gate through the Park wall was, it is believed, granted by George III. to Lord Carhampton in 1798, he being Commander of the Forces in that year. Lord Carhampton sold his right to Luke White, whose heir became Lord Annally. The privilege of a gate through the Park wall was granted to a then owner of Farm-leigh (now the property of Lord Iveagh) nearly 100 years ago by the Lord Lieutenant of the day. There are five other private entrances into the Park by private doors, representing very old privileges, probably quite 100 years old. I know of no similar rights for vehicles in English Royal Parks. There does not seem to be any need for a Return on the subject. The privileges and easements in the form of gates and doors are given above, and the other information asked for will be found in a Return presented to Parliament, on the 21st of February, 1888. The polo ground is not enclosed. At no period have the Park roads been in better order, or in so good order as at the present time, both as to metalling and gravelling. The passes for the Strawberry Beds residents were limited by the Board of Works to July 31, as by that time it will be known what steps the Grand Jury of the County Dublin intends to take for the improvement of the Chapelizod Road.

MR. T. M. HEALY

If the roads are in such good order why are these unfortunate market gardeners to lose the right which they have enjoyed—with their forefathers—scores of years?

* SIR J. T. HIBBERT

said, that the Park roads were, he understood, more used than formerly, owing to the condition of the roads outside the Park.

MR. T. M. HEALY

These men only use the Park roads before 10 o'clock in the morning, and I cannot say that a right enjoyed for centuries should be taken from them and allowed to two noble Lords.

MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of extending the privilege possessed by these noble Lords to the directors of The Freeman's Journal?

MR. T. M. HEALY

Unless the market gardeners are allowed the privilege I shall call attention to the matter on the Estimates.