§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)On behalf of the hon. Member for East Wicklow, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the engineer appointed by the Irish Board of Works to examine the condition of Arklow Harbour has made in his Report any suggestions as to the means that should be adopted for removing the existing obstacles to navigation: if so, can he state those suggestions; and whether, in view of the present uselessness of the harbour and the consequent injury to the trade and prosperity of the town, he can say how soon the Board of Works will commence the operations necessary to give vessels free access to the port.
§ MR. VICTOR CAVENDISHSuggestions have been made by the engineer of the Board of Works as to the steps which might be taken for improving the condition of the harbour, which would apparently involve considerable expense. But the Board have no authority to undertake any works in the harbour. The Board of Works has done all in its power to free the entrance to the harbour by the loan of their dredger, thus enabling the fishing fleet to get in and out.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)I understand that the request is that the local people should be allowed to see the Report of the Board of Works engineer. Cannot it be supplied?
§ MR. VICTOR CAVENDISHI think there will be no difficulty in letting them have the Report.