MR. POWERI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that it was agreed by the terms of The Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbour Act, 1898, that the railway company was not to be paid £93,000 by the Treasury until they had completed the line from Rosslare to Waterford and the line from Fermoy and Dunkettle, and that an effort was made in July, 1901, by the railway company to induce the Treasury to assent to the abandonment of the Fermoy and Dunkettle line to Cork, and to transfer the £93,000 to a scheme to join the several railways in Cork; and 957 will he say if the Treasury refused the application of the railway company.
§ MR. MCKENNAUnder the Schedule to the Act referred to the Treasury agreed to pay the sum of £93,000 to the Fishguard Company upon the fulfilment of certain conditions, one of which was the construction of a line between Fermoy and Dunkettle. The railway company in 1901 sought to be relieved of this statutory obligation and to obtain the £93,000 in the manner suggested, and this application was refused.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)asked whether the Rosslare and Fishguard Company had given the Treasury any assurance that they would now make the line between Fermoy and Cork.
§ MR. MCKENNANo, Sir, I am not aware that they have.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENHave the promoters of this Bill given the Treasury any assurance that in return for this money the line to Fethard will be made?
§ MR. MCKENNAreplied in the negative.
§ MR. JOHN O'CONNORI will bring the matter up on the Estimates, and I strongly advise the hon. Member to reconsider his decision.