§ MR. J. O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that it was provided in the Blackrock and Kingstown Drainage Act, 1896, that the Drainage Board should, within two months from the passing of the Act, obtain an engineer's certificate that the works legalised by the Act had been completed; and that Mr. Usher Roberts, the engineer nominated by the Local Government Board, has several times between October, 1896, and April, 1898, examined the works, but found them in such a condition that he refused to certify that they were efficient; and whether, in consequence of the failure of the Drainage Board to carry out the provisions of the Act of 1896, he will order an inquiry to be made by the Irish Local Government Board into the condition of the drainage works?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe facts are as stated in the first paragraph. The powers of the Local Government Board in this matter are limited by section 4 of the Act to nominating the engineer who is to give the certificate required by the section, and the Board have no power to cause a local inquiry to be held, as suggested, or to take any further steps with respect to the certificate.