§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)On behalf of the hon. Member for South Donegal I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the repairs promised to be effected on the Oratory on Skellig Michael, off the coast of Kerry, have been successfully carried out; whether the superintendent of ancient monuments, Ireland, has inspected these ruins lately; and, if not, whether, in the cause of antiquarian knowledge, he will shortly do so; and when, if the repairs have been effected, a report thereon from the Superintendent of Ancient Monuments will be laid before Parliament?
§ MR. HANBURYThe repairs referred to have been successfully carried out, except that the resetting of the steps on the approach to the summit has not been completed, and a portion of the protecting wall on the south side of the church has not yet been raised to its proper level. These portions of the work have been delayed, owing to the difficulty of approaching the rock by boat in winter, but they will be resumed and completed at the earliest opportunity. The superintendent of national and ancient monuments has not inspected the ruins recently; but they were inspected last summer by one of the Board's surveyors, who is secretary to the Royal Society of Antiquaries, Ireland. In accordance with the usual practice, the substance of the superintendent's report upon this and other monuments will be given in an 1057 Appendix to the annual report of the Commissioners of Public Works, and it will deal with the work done, and the condition of the ruin.