§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that great destruction is done to crops along the River Erne, in West Cavan, by reason of the overflowing of the river; and whether, seeing that this is a partially congested district in which money could be judiciously expended to relieve distress, he can promise to give any extra facilities to the local drainage board for the carrying out of extra drainage works which would at once relieve distress and be of a reproductive and useful character?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe information before me does not point to the existence of wide-spread distress in this district, nor have I any reasons to believe that the resources of the poor law will be insufficient to deal with isolated cases of destitution that may occur. The question of undertaking the drainage works referred to, for the purpose of relieving immediate distress, does not, therefore, arise.