§ MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a memorial signed by the chairmen of the Dungarvan urban and rural district councils and others on behalf of these councils, urging the importance of the construction of the Cunnigar bridge and roadway, and asking for a grant for the purpose of £15,000; whether his attention has been called to the memorial presented to the Secretary of State for India, when Chief Secretary for Ireland, on the same subject; and whether he will be able to make a personal investigation during the present year into the merits of the proposed works, having regard to the advantages which it is claimed will accrue from their construction.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I have received the memorial referred to, and as I have already informed the hon. Member, have examined the memorial which was presented in 1894 to the then Chief Secretary. I have obtained reports upon the proposal to erect a bridge or causeway at the Cunnigar, and these lead me to doubt whether the benefit to be obtained would be commensurate with the very large expenditure which would be necessary. In any case funds for works of the kind are not at present available. I shall 1321 be glad to visit the Cunnigar when opportunity offers, but am not able to say when that may be.