§ Mr. PATRICK MEEHANasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, in the report of the Development Commission recently issued, there is no mention that any action whatever has been taken in connection with the reclamation and drainage of land which is one of the principal objects for which the money under the Development Fund Act is applicable; whether he is aware that several Royal Commissions have reported on the urgent need of arterial drainage in Ireland, especially in the flooded area of the River Barrow; and whether instructions will be issued to the Commissioners to give immediate attention to this question in view of its urgency in Ireland?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hobhouse)I understand that certain schemes for land drainage are now before the Commission and will shortly be considered by them. An application for a grant for the drainage of the River Barrow area is being reported on, in accordance with Section 4 (1) of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, by the Government Department concerned.