§ Mr. GILHOOLYasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the proposed scheme of motor car service from Macroom and Bantry, via Glengariffe, to Killarney by the South Ireland Tourist Development Company; whether he is aware that at a meeting of the Cork County Council Mr. R. Long-field, county surveyor, gave his opinion that the roads in his district are too soft and unsuitable for such traffic; whether the Local Government Board for Ireland have power to prevent such traffic; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in connection with the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMy attention has been drawn to this matter. I have no information with regard to the opinion attributed to Mr. Longfield. While the Local Government Board have limited powers of prohibiting or restricting motor car traffic in certain special circumstances mentioned in Section 8 of the Motor Car Act of 1903, they have no general powers to prevent such traffic. The Board have, however, written to the county surveyors through whose districts it is proposed to run the motor service to the effect that if they consider any of the roads not safe for such traffic they should report the facts to their respective county councils, with a view to the councils communicating with the South of Ireland Tourist Development Company.