§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the present position of the negotiations for the vesting and protection of the ruins of St. Mels ancient cathedral at Ardagh, county Longford; whether he is aware that the year fixed by the Church representative body for the providing of local funds has now elapsed and nothing has been done; and that the graveyard in which the ruins stand has been recently closed by order of the Local Government Board; and whether he can hold out any hope that something will be done to restore and maintain the remains of this ancient monument?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURYThis ruin is vested in the Church Representative Body, and the Board of Works have under existing circumstances no power to undertake any work in respect of it. Towards the end of 1896 the representative body decided to postpone for a year the question of vesting the ruin in the Board of Works, in order to see whether any local funds would be forthcoming. The year has expired, but nothing further has been heard from them. The Board of Works are prepared to consider with the consultative committee nominated by the Royal Irish Academy, and the Royal Society of Antiquaries, whether steps should be taken for vesting the ruin in the Board; but up to the present no Report has been made by the consultative committee, who have been awaiting the action of the representative body. I understand that the Local Government Board have not made any Order for the closing of the graveyard; and that even if it were closed, that would not necessarily increase the risk of injury to the ruin. I may add that in any case the Board of Works have no power to restore, but only to maintain.