§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Ballycastle Rural District Council are desirous of handing over the custody of certain ruins at Bonamargy to the Board of Works; and whether, in accordance with the Ancient Monuments Protection Act of 1892, he will see this offer is accepted.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverAn application to this effect was made by the district council. Section 19 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, enables a county council to become the guardians of a class of ancient monuments or structures, of which the ruins in question appear to be one. It appears to me that the district council should vest these ruins in the county council for preservation under the provisions of the enactment mentioned.
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, if the matter comes before me officially: but application to the county council should be made in the first instance by the district-council.