HC Deb 25 February 1904 vol 130 cc998-9
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will reconsider the decision to withdraw the Government subsidy in connection with the tourist traffic between Kilrush and Tarbert, and also the coach services in Clare and Kerry; and if he can state what the amount of this subsidy is.

MR. WYNDHAM

The receipts in the case of the Tarbert to Kilrush steamer service to the 31st of December last amounted to £535, and the expenditure to £4,253. In the case of the two coach services the receipts were £1,480, and the expenditure £7,338. The subsidy allocated to the two coach services amounted to £8,848, and to the steamer service £5,208. I am afraid I cannot hold out any hope that the Government will reconsider the decision already come to.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

Will the right hon. Gentleman postpone altering these subsidies until the new transit scheme has developed?

MR. WYNDHAM

I am afraid that my answer to that must be in the negative. The Act of 1896 was an experimental Act to try certain routes, and, where it has been proved that the losses are so great, it seems better not to exhaust the surplus on a service which is doomed to failure, and surely it would be preferable to allot it to more favourable schemes.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

But could not something be done by altering the route?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member must give notice of that.

MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY

But in view of the fact that these routes——

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The Question on the Paper has been fully answered.

* MR. FLAVIN

May I ask——

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

I shall call attention to this matter later on.

* MR. FLAVIN

I am a representative of the district through which this service runs. Am I not entitled to ask a Question?

MR. SPEAKER

The Question on the Paper has been answered fully.

* MR. FLAVIN

Then I give notice that I will put down a Question for Monday.