§ MR. PATRICK McDERMOTT (Kilkenny, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he has received representations from the ratepayers of Castle-comer district, including clergymen, landlords, farmers, coalowners and colliers, asking for State aid towards the construction of a railway through the coalfields; whether he is aware the miners are on half time, as over 12,000 tons of coal are on the banks at the pit's mouth at present, which cannot be moved owing to the want of railway facilities; whether he has caused inquiry to be made into these facts; and, whether the Government have considered the claims of this district, and how far they are prepared to go in aid of local effort?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURRepresentations to the effect stated have been received, and the proposal will be considered in connection with other similar proposals.