§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that, while the permanent deterioration of the Royal Canal has been continuing for years, the Midland Railway Company have hitherto carried out every summer the annual dredging necessary to allow boats to ply, and that the company now avail of the permission of the Irish Government to neglect not only the former, but the latter also, thus depriving boatmen of their living and traders of the service; and, if it was not his intention to allow this new and additional injury to canal and people, whether 1932 he will require the company to carry out the annual summer dredging?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)I am informed by the Board of Control of the Royal Canal that the quarterly report of works done on the canal, furnished by the Midland Great Western Railway, for the quarter ending 30th June last, shows that 1,020 yards of the canal were dredged during that quarter. The Board have not this year received any complaints from boat owners or others of hindrance to navigation from want of dredging.