§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Irish Government has been called to the burden imposed on the ratepayers of county Clare by the present arrangements in reference to the Clare Railways; and whether he will consider the desirability of devising some plan which will relieve the ratepayers of this burden; and whether the Government will take some steps in this direction.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.)The Answer to the first part of the Question is 341 in the affirmative Relief to the rate payers could only be obtained by legislation transferring the burden to other shoulders. I understand that the county council have taken steps to bring the matter before the Viceregal Commission on Irish Railways now sitting, and pending the Report of the Commission on this and similar eases it would not appear to be desirable that the Government should consider the question of taking any steps in the matter.