§ MR. JOHN O'CONNOR (Kildare, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has yet considered the scheme of Messrs. Glover and White for the drainage of the River Barrow; whether the same was submitted to the Board of Works; and, if so, has it reported thereon, and what is the opinion of the said Board upon that scheme; and is he now in a position to say what the intention of the Government is in respect to the said scheme or any other for the drainage of the River Barrow.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe scheme of Messrs. Glover and White for the drainage of the Barrow was referred to the Board of Works, who reported that it did not contain sufficient information to enable them to judge what result might be anticipated from the expenditure recommended. I have been in communication with the Treasury on the subject, and regret to say that, apart from the merits of the particular scheme, there is no prospect of obtaining a grant from Parliament for the purpose in question, regard being had to the many other projects now afoot for expenditure in Ireland.
§ MR. JOHN O'CONNOROn the Motion for the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill I will call attention to the whole question of arterial drainage in Ireland.