§ MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)On behalf of the hon. Member for North Kildare (Mr. C. J. ENGLEDOW), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the disastrous effects of the floods in the River Barrow during the last 12 months has been brought to his notice, when the low-lying portions of many of the towns on its banks were flooded, and the produce of a very large area of the adjoining lands destroyed; and whether he will consider the urgent necessity that exists for the adoption of some scheme for the drainage of that river?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURRepresentations of the nature indicated have been made to Government, but I can only 1328 repeat what I have already stated on more than one occasion, that the evidence in the matter of the proposed drainage has been carefully looked into, with the result that I am forced to the conclusion that the cost of the work would be largely in excess of the estimate formed by the Allport Commission, and that even if the Treasury were willing to ask Parliament to provide the large sum necessary, it could probably be applied to more useful purposes in Ireland.