MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether he is aware that the Portumna derelict railway cost over £100,000 to construct; and (2) whether the Government will give a grant of £37,000 to re-equip the line and clear it of incumbrance?
MR. GERALD BALFOLRI under-stand that the cost of construction of this line was £80,000, of which the sum of £12,000 was advanced by the Public Works Loan Commissioners. This loan has never been repaid. As regards the second paragraph, I have already informed the hon. Member that in no circumstances can the Government, under the Act of last year, contribute more than one-half of the cost of re-constructing the line, which has been estimated at £24,000.