asked the Minister for Finance whether he will take steps to secure from the British Government all the original engraved Plates, Drawings, Triangulations, Notes etc., relating to the Surveys of Ireland; whether he is aware that these valuable works, together with plans and Engravings and Charts of Irish Territorial Waters and Harbours, were removed to the Ordance Survey Department, Southampton, also a valuable dynamo used for electrotyping of copperplates; to ask that this branch of the National Service be restored to its former prominence.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SURVEYS OF IRELAND (CUSTODY OF).
Steps have already been taken to secure for the Government of the Irish Free State its fair share of the property referred to. The return of the plates referred to in the first part of the question has been going on for some months past, but has been held up owing to transit difficulties. The electrotyping plant was removed to Southampton about twenty years ago, and is understood to be entirely out of date.