MR. C. MACVEIGH (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the grievance of the ratepayers in the guaranteeing area of the Strabane to Letterkenny Railway, East Donegal; whether he is aware that the rate is levied on the area and the railway lying dormant and unopened for traffic, though completed for many months; and whether he will inquire into the cause of the delay and take steps to have the line opened for the accommodation of the public, or prohibit the collection of rates to pay a guarantee to a non-working railway.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Act authorising the construction of this line provides that the payments under the guarantee which the county is empowered to give shall run from the date of issue of certain proportions of the capital of the company. I have no power to interfere with the collection of rates for the purpose. As regards the opening of the line, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. friend the President of the Board of Trade on 5th November. I understand that the Board are still awaiting a communication from the railway company.