§ MR. O'MALLEY ((Galway, Connemara)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the promises given by successive Chief Secretaries since the passing of the Marine Works Act of 1902, that a sum of £3,000 was to be expended on a pier at Clifden, Connemara, and, in view of the rates already weighing heavily on the poor people of the Clifden union, now actually threatened with distress, consequent on the failure of the potato crop, he will consider the advisability of withdrawing the condition made for the construction of this pier by the Irish Government, viz., that a sum of £2,000 be subscribed out of the rates to supplement the proposed grant.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's Question of 5th December,†the Irish Government are desirous of making a grant from the Marine Works Fund for the construction of a pier at Clifden; but, under the Act, such a grant is conditional on the Treasury being satisfied that reasonable assistance in the provision of ancillary works is given by the local authorities. Upon this point the Government are awaiting the reply of the county council to the communication addressed to them on 31st October.