§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can explain the delay on the part of the Irish Board of Works in applying to the Treasury for the loan (sanctioned last October), on the joint application of the Corporation of Kilkenny and the county council of Kilkenny, for the reconstruction of St. John's Bridge in Kilkenny city; and whether, in view of the importance of this work as a public necessity and the number of unemployed who could be put to work as soon as the reconstruction can be commenced, he will see that the loan is promptly completed?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIt is not the case that this loan was sanctioned in October last. It is less than a fortnight since the recommendation for the making of the loan was received by the Board of Works from the Local Government Board for Ireland. As I have stated in answers to previous questions by the hon. Member, numerous difficulties, legal and administrative, required to be surmounted. These have now been disposed of, and the application for Treasury sanction was submitted to the Treasury on Saturday last. The decision of the Treasury will be given in a day or two.