§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)On behalf of the hon. Member for West Clare (Major JAMESON), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether, in reference to the statement that the piers at Kilrush, Liscannor, and Carrigaholt, in West Clare, were built out of Imperial Funds, and not out of Irish funds, he will inquire if this is the case; and, if he finds it is not so, will he recommend a grant out of Imperial funds to make these piers effective?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe total cost of the erection of the piers at the places named in the Question was £33,324, of which £7,868 was provided by grants out of Imperial funds, £615,101 by grants out of Church funds, and £10,355 from local sources. I have already stated, with reference to the construction of piers by-means of Exchequer grants, that it is not now the practice to provide such expenditure in the Annual Estimates, out that the Government were always 1575 prepared to inquire into and consider each case on its own merits. With reference to Liscannor pier, the only circumstance calculated to raise a question as to its effectiveness for fishery purposes was a complaint made some time ago that the harbour was being filled with sand. The Board of Works had deepened it previously to handing the pier over to the Grand Jury, and the duty of maintaining the harbour at a proper depth rests with that body. I am dealing with Kilrush pier in reply to the next Question of the hon. Member.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANOn behalf of the hon. Member for West Clare (Major JAMESON), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether, with reference to Question on the subject of pier at Kilrush, he will specially consider the need of expenditure on Kilrush pier and harbour owing to the increasing importance of the trade of this town both in respect to fishing and other commercial enterprise?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo money could be provided for the improvement and extension of the existing pier at Cappagh, Kilrush, from repayments of loans under the Sea Fisheries (Ireland) Act of 1883, because the need for the extension is a commercial need unconnected with fisheries. The question whether it is possible or desirable for the Government to assist in carrying out the extension from any other source is now under consideration.