MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, following public remonstrance, the Irish Board of Works, shortly after the arrival of Her Majesty in Dublin, consented to-put some gravel on one of the footpaths of the Phoenix Park; is there any rule which prevents a statement of the reasons for which an honour, such as that which the Chairman of the Board of Works received recently, is conferred; and what is the average cost of upkeep per square yard of roads and paths in royal parks in England and Ireland, and what have the trees and ornamental shrubs planted in London and Dublin Royal Parks for the last twenty years respectively cost.
§ MR. HANBURYNo such remonstrance has been made. Only certain parts in the Viceregal demesne, which is not open to the public, were gravelled. The question in paragraph two is not one about which I have any knowledge. As I informed the hon. Member on 21st March 1899 the cost of upkeep per square yard of road is, in Dublin, 2½d. per annum, and in London 10½d., or if Greenwich, Richmond, and Bushey Parks are included, 5½d. per annum. No figures are available as to the cost of paths or of trees and ornamental shrubs.