§ MR. M'GOVERN (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the county council of the county of Cavan has called the attention of the Local Government 699 Board and the Board of Agriculture for Ireland to the necessity of amending the Local Government (Ireland) Act so as to enable county councils to execute arterial drainage works and to re-afforest waste lands, subject to the usual procedure which has to be adopted in making new roads and other similar public works; and whether it is the intention of the Government to take any steps in the present session to amend the Local Government Act in this and other respects.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. As at present advised, I do not propose to amend the Act of 1899 in the direction suggested. The question of arterial drainage is at present one that comes more directly within the province of the Board of Works, who have considerable statutory powers in regard thereto. The Department of Agriculture are fully alive to the importance of including provision for tree planting operations and the expert advice necessary for carrying them out effecttively in the schemes which the county councils are engaged in promoting under the Act of 1899, and will be prepared to take the requisite measures for this purpose at the proper opportunity.