§ MAJOR JAMESON (Clare, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that though a grant is made out of Imperial Funds for Fishing Piers in Scotland there is no similar grant in Ireland, and whether he will consider the possibility of making a similar provision in Ireland, and extending the same to Kilrush, Liscamior, and Carrigaholt, in County Clare?
§ *MR. GERALD BALFOURIt appears from the Estimates that a sum of £3,000 is provided for Fishery Piers in Scotland in the next financial year. The hon. Member does not appear to be aware of the fact that very large sums of money have already been expended on the construction of such piers in Ireland under various Acts of Parliament, and that, as regards two of the piers specially named in the Question, namely, Liscamior and Carrigaholt, sums amounting to £5,184 and £13,761 respectively, have been expended. It has not been the practice in recent years to provide in the Estimates for additional expenditure on piers in Ireland, generally, but of course the Government have always been prepared to inquire into any applications made to them and to consider each case upon its own merits.
§ MAJOR JAMESONWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether this expenditure is out of Irish funds, and not out of Imperial funds?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo, Sir; the hon. and gallant Member is mistaken. It is out of Imperial funds that these charges are paid.