§ COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the application of the fishermen of Portavogie, county Down, (which place he visited on the 2nd November last), has been considered by the Treasury and the Irish Office, and with which of these Departments the matter now rests; and, whether the officer of the Irish Board of Works has made any report on the subject, or furnished any plans or estimates; and, if so, whether the Secretary to the Treasury will permit them to be inspected?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonNo communication on this subject has been received by the Treasury from the Irish Office, and, therefore, no inspection or report has been made by the Board of Works. It is not for the Treasury to initiate expenditure in such cases, but I will consult my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland as to whether any, and if so what, steps should be taken in the matter. I may remind my hon. and gallant Friend that, so far as I am aware, he has not furnished the Government with any memorial from the locality showing how it is proposed to provide for whatever expenditure is suggested, though he has already brought before me the claim which the enterprise and rapidly-increasing number of fishermen at Portavogie give for favourable consideration, should funds be available.