To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the sums of money available for the construction of certain improvement works in connection with Kinvara Harbour, Galway; whether the initiation of the works is contingent upon a grant being given by the Galway County Council; whether the council has signified to the Agricultural Department, the Congested Districts Board, and the Board of Works its willingness to make the said grant; and whether, in view of the urgency of the works, the Government will enable the county council to carry out the works, which are not alone essential in the interest of the harbour, but certain to be of advantage to the poor people this bad season in providing them with employment.

As the hon. Member is aware, the difficulty in this matter arises from the fact that in the present state of the law, the Galway County Council have no power to make the necessary contribution towards the cost of the work in question. This difficulty would have been removed if the Navigation Works Bill of this session had become law.