§ MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the reason for the delay in the commencement of the work of making the improvements in the buildings of the military barracks at Ballyshannon which were promised by the Government, and when will this work be begun?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSThere is no necessity for the work to be done immediately. The permanent staff and the arms and clothing are at Lifford, where the Militia battalion will assemble on 13th June, then proceeding to Firmer, Ballyshannon, to be encamped during training. Accommodation in barracks at Ballyshannon will, therefore, not be required until after the training, but the General Officer commanding will carry out the work as soon as possible, irrespective of that.
§ MR. MACNEILLIs the honourable Member aware that these works have been promised for upwards of 12 months, and that "hope deferred makes the heart grow sick"?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSThe money for this work has been included in this year's Estimate, and, no doubt, it will be completed before the end of the financial year.