§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if attention has been called to the fact that, owing to the non-working of the sluice gates on the Shannon at Meelick, near Athlone, the surrounding country has been again flooded; and if he will give instructions to have these gates more regularly worked in future so as to prevent this constant recurrence of damage to the property of residents in the vicinity?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. The Board of Works tell me that since the beginning of the month all the sluices at Meelick have been open and working to their fullest capacity, and that any flooding has been due to the exceptionally heavy rainfall in the Shannon basin.