MR. C. MACVEIGH (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Strabane to Letterkenny Railway, East Donegal, was practically completed, inspected, and passed by the Board of Works in July last, with the exception of the station at Strabane, which the Joint Committee seemed to disagree about; whether the Donegal County Council have given a guarantee in connection with this railway, which is being levied off the guaranteeing area, and the ratepayers are deriving no benefit from the line; whether he can state what is the cause of the delay; and whether he will take steps to have this line opened for traffic immediately and thereby provide some little employment, which is much needed in the district.
§ MR. CHURCHILLMy right hon. friend has asked mo to answer this Question. The railway was inspected on behalf of the Board of Trade in July last and its opening for passenger traffic between Letterkenny and Raphoe was then sanctioned. The Board were, at the time, unable to sanction the opening of the section of the line between Raphoe and Strabane owing to the incompleteness of the terminal arrangements at the latter place, but the railway company were informed that a re-inspection of the works would be made so soon as the requirements of the inspecting officer had been complied with. The company have not yet notified the Department that the outstanding works have been completed, but the hon. Member may rest assured that there will be no delay on our part in making the necessary re-inspection.