§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGH (Fermanagh, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the present derelict condition of the Ballinamore Canal from the Shannon to the Erne; is there any section of the canal at present available for the passage even of small boats; who has the charge of the canal, and is any person responsible for its upkeep as a canal; and was the canal constructed with public money.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I am informed that the navigation was constructed at a cost of £228,652, of which £198,652 was a free grant from the public Exchequer. The remainder, £30,000, was repaid by the counties of Leitrim, Cavan, Roscommon, and Fermanagh. The navigation was vested in trustees called the trustees of the Ballinamore and Bally-connell Navigation. It was abandoned by them in 1865 owing to absence of trade. I have no means of ascertaining whether any part is navigable by email boats.