§ MR. JAMES O'KELLY (Roscommon, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the leader of the late Government, when Chief Secretary for Ireland, promised a Government grant in aid of the construction of a railway from Arigna to Sligo; whether this promise was repeated by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Dover and the right hon. Member for South Dublin during their respective terms of office as Chief Secretary; and whether the right hon. Gentleman, the present holder of the office, can now see his way to redeem this promise, in view of the fact that, owing to the failure of the potato crop in the district, employment for the people is badly wanted.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am aware that my predecessors have from time to time had under consideration different 860 projects for connecting Arigna with existing lines of railway, but I find no record that any promise of a Government grant has been made. I myself recently received a deputation in favour of a railway from Arigna to the Sligo, Leitrim, and Northern Counties Railway at Dromahaire, and also a deputation asking, amongst other things, for a railway from Arigna to Collooney, which is in railway connection with Sligo. I can only repeat now what I said then, namely, that in the event of further funds for railway extension becoming available, the claims of Arigna will receive consideration in conjunction with claims from other districts. I am obtaining the views of the Board of Works upon the two rival schemes for providing railway communication with Arigna.