§ MR. HALPIN (Clare, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the county of Clare has a liability of 2 per cent, on £283,000 in perpetuity on the West and South Clare Railway; that the Treasury has also a similar liability on this railway; that the ratepayers have to pay over £7,500 a year for the railway which runs on Merchant's Quay, Kilrush; and whether he will take any steps to have the control of this quay vested in the county council of Clare for the benefit of the rate-payers.
MR. BRYCEI am informed by the Board of Works that the capital of the West and South Clare Railways together is £283,520. The liability of the county 950 is to pay dividends on the capital at 4 per cent., and also any deficit on working. The Treasury liability is to re-pay to the county half the amount which the county pays as dividends up to a maximum of 2 per cent. The net amount paid by the county in respect of both lines, allowing for the recoupment made from the Local Taxation Account, was, in 1904, £6,254, and in 1905, £6,212. I have already explained to the hon. Member that the Court of Appeal have decided the quay to be private property, and that I have no power to have it given over to the county council.