MR. PATRICK O'BRIENOn behalf of the honourable Member for the St. Patrick Division of Dublin I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether negotiations were in progress between the Government and the Great Southern and Western Railway Company to extend the recently constructed light railway from Renard to Waterville, through a district in which Government relief works have been opened this year; whether he is aware that resolutions in favour of this extension have been unanimously passed by the presentment sessions, the poor law boards, and grand jury, and that all classes of the community in the district demand it; and whether, under these circumstances, the Government will immediately consider the matter?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo negotiations have taken place between the Irish. Government and the Great Southern and Western Railway Company on the subject of the extension of the line of railway from Renard to Waterville. Upwards of two years ago, however, proposals were made to Government in this direction by a number of gentlemen locally interested in the project, and the decision of Government was communicated to the honourable Member for South Kerry for the information of those interested.