§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the reason that the Board of Works have closed up Dalkey granite quarry for so many years; whether the Board of Works require a granite supply in the neighbourhood; and whether he would consider the advisability of arranging that the quarries may be opened so as to give employment to the locality?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe reason that the Dalkey granite quarries have been closed for many years is because the Board of Works had at Kingstown Harbour a sufficient reserve of granite to meet all probable requirements. The Board do not re-require a granite supply in the neighbourhood. As to the advisability of arranging that the quarries may be opened so as to give employment in the locality, the Commissioners of Kingstown Harbour advertised in April, 1907, in the Dublin newspapers, inviting tenders for the renting of the quarries at Dalkey, with a result that they received no offer which they could entertain.