§ MR. J. J. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been called to the correspondence between certain leading inhabitants of Balbriggan and the Great Northern Railway Company of Ireland relative to the desirability of re-converting the portion of the railway bridge at that station to the east of the lines of rail into a public footway; and whether he is aware that the proposed work would have the double effect of providing for the majority of the inhabitants of Balbriggan a passage to the sea other than the existing dangerous one over a level crossing of the company's line, and of also affording a protection to the Great Northern Railway Company's passengers, the want of which has recently led to a fatal accident at the bridge mentioned; and, if so, whether the Board of Trade will communicate with the Great Northern Railway Company of Ireland on this subject?
§ MR. RITCHIEMy attention had not been directed to this subject, but I have now communicated with the railway company, and learn that the matter has been under the consideration of the directors. I gather that, as a footpath already exists on the west side of the viaduct referred to, the directors are of opinion that there is no necessity for a second footpath alongside the same viaduct on the east side, which could only be supplied at very considerable expense. The company also inform me that the town is on the west side of the railway, and that a second footpath on the east side of the viaduct would not be of any advantage whatever to the townspeople in getting to the sea, which they can reach without going over the level crossing.