§ MR. B. COLLERY (Sligo, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is the amount expended by the Congested Districts Board in connection with the fishing industry in the County of Sligo, for the years ending 31st December, 1893 and 1894, respectively; whether he is aware that the County of Sligo contains a large and poor fishing population along its coast, extending from Donegal to Mayo, a distance of 60 miles; and, whether the Congested Districts Board, when appealed to by the Sligo Board of Guardians to erect a pier or slip for the use of those people, stated they had no funds for engineering purposes?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY, Newcastle-upon-Tyne)Fishery loans, amounting to £142 and £54 were issued during thy years 1893 and 1894, respectively, in the County of Sligo, and grants amounting to £5,000 were sanctioned for the improvement of Inishmurray landing-place, 948 and Mullaghmore Harbour. A fish-curing station was also opened on the coast, and the expenses incidental to the station, inclusive of the salary of a curer, and the purchase of fish, came to £140. It is further proposed to open a curing station at Inishmurray. I am informed that the reply sent to the Sligo Board of Guardians was, that the undertaking of engineering or other works, with the object of affording immediate relief by the employment of persons suffering from exceptional temporary distress, was not one of the means in which the Congested Districts Board were empowered to spend their funds.