§ MR. MEAGHERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of. Ireland whether his attention has been called to the coal-mining industry in the vicinity of Castlecomer, in the county of Kilkenny, and to the want of railway facilities, by which the industry is hampered; and whether, in view of the applications repeatedly made to the Irish Government for financial aid for the construction of a railway in connection with the existing railway lines, he can see his way to recommend a grant for this purpose, only about eight miles of a line of railway will connect the mines with all the Irish railways.
MR. BEYCEI understand that repeated[applications have been made to the Irish Government for financial assistance in establishing railway communication with the Castlecomer coal fields, but that the funds which have been provided for railway extension in Ireland have been devoted to meeting the claims of poorer and more isolated districts. I have already stated that the question of improving the light railway service and rendering these railways more serviceable for agricultural and other transport, is engaging my attention; but, as at present advised, I am disposed to think that the claims of the Castlecomer district to assistance are less strong than those of some other districts.