§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has recently received any representations as to the urgent need for drainage in the Scariff district, county Clare; and whether, in view of the loss sustained by the people of the district owing to floods, he will give the matter his immediate attention.
§ MR. BIRRELLYes, Sir, but I regret to say that I cannot hold out hopes that the Scariff district will be exceptionally dealt with in priority to other localities similarly affected by floods. Apart from the difficulty of obtaining funds for the purpose, there does not appear to be any local authority vested with legal power to undertake works of improvement on the Scariff river, nor could it be expected that under existing conditions this want could be supplied by the formation of a drainage district under the Drainage Act of 1863.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIf the right hon. Gentleman cannot deal with the Scariff district in an exceptional manner, will he consider the advisability of dealing without delay with all those districts where people suffer very severely from floods, and can he hold out any hope that the Government will in the near future do something to prevent the tremendous loss of property and distress caused by the floods? I can assure the right hon. Gentleman I have visited these districts and know it is heartrending to see the sufferings of the people. Something must be done.
§ MR. BIRRELLI am fully acquainted with the circumstances, and am certain the matter demands full consideration. It is a matter for the Treasury, as the expense would be very large, but it would be cruel for me to hold out any immediate hopes that I shall be able to supply the funds.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDThen are the people in the districts affected by floods to understand that no help will be given them? If so, it will be, I am afraid, a serious matter
§ MR. BIRRELLWe are trying to do our very best, but I do not want to hold out false hopes. The Irish Government cannot be expected to do anything immediately, but I should be sorry to have it said nothing is to be done.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIf money is not now forthcoming, will the right hon. Gentleman promise an inquiry at once into the extent of the damage done by these floods and the amount required to apply a remedy. It is a very serious matter and has already been pending for years.
§ [No Answer was returned.]