§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can state how many and what county councils have declined to accept the financial responsibity of keeping the roads in the condition required by the promoters of the Pirrie-Iveagh scheme; and whether any negotiations took place between the promoters and any member of the Government with reference to providing funds from the Treasury for putting the roads in order.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe local authorities in the counties of Mayo, Galway, Londonderry, and Antrim declined to incur the expenditure necessary for putting the roads into proper condition for motor traffic. In reply to the second part of the Question the hon. Member is doubtless aware that, acting on a suggestion made by the Galway County Council, the Government proposed an Amendment to the Labourers Bill of last session which contemplated the expenditure of the whole or part of the unexpended balance of a county's share in the Exchequer contribution for labourers' cottages for purposes such as the schemes referred to in the Question. There was never any intention, so far as I am aware, to provide funds from other sources.
§ MR. MACVEAGHIs that statement made with the knowledge and concurrence of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Dover?
§ MR. ATKINSONThe statement I make here is, of course, not made with that right hon. Gentleman's knowledge.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Are we to understand that this scheme has broken down? Are we to hear no more of it?
§ MR. ATKINSON"Broken down" is not the phrase to use. It has not been carried into effect because the roads have not been put in proper repair.
§ MR. CULLINAN (Tipperary, S.)Is it not a fact that several county councils in Ireland have offered to repair the roads if they could secure the introduction of this motor scheme, but their offer has been refused?
§ MR. ATKINSONI must ask for notice of that.