asked the Minister for Finance whether he has received representations from Dun Laoghaire Corporation and other interested parties regarding the unsuitability of Carlisle Pier, Dun Laoghaire, for dealing with the increasing passenger traffic passing through that port; whether he will state what action, if any, he has already taken concerning these representations; whether he can state the amount received from the railway company in respect of dues during the last three years for which the figures are available, and the amount, if any, expended on the improvement of the pier during the same period; whether in view of the apparent necessity for providing improved pier accommodation as well as useful work for a large number of unemployed living in the area he will now state when he will be in a position to carry out the necessary improvement work, and what amount, if any, will be made available for the purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dun Laoghaire Pier Improvements.
Representations have been made to the Commissioners of Public Works by the Dun Laoghaire Borough Corporation and by the Great Southern Railways for the enlargement of the Carlisle Pier at Dun Laoghaire harbour. The present pier is capable of taking at any stage of the tide the largest type of boat likely to be used on the cross-Channel service and, while some inconvenience is occasioned at peak periods of traffic, the pier is large enough to accommodate the normal numbers utilising this service.
There are several bodies concerned in the use of the pier and the Commissioners have already intimated their willingness to have any specific proposal or plan examined and considered. Up to the present no such proposal has been submitted.
The dues collected in respect of Dun Laoghaire harbour form part of the appropriations-in-aid of the Vote for Public Works and Buildings out of which Vote the cost of maintaining the harbour is met. The dues received from the railway company during the past three years, i.e., 1934-37 amounted in the aggregate to £54,937 7s. 11d The expenditure during the same years amounted to £43,719 12s. 5d.
The dues received from the railway company for the preceding three years, viz., 1931-34, amounted to £53,652 15s. 2d., whilst the expenditure for the corresponding three years amounted to £60,588 4s. 2d. It must be realised that, apart from normal maintenance, extensive periodical repairs arising out of storm damage, to which the main breakwaters are always liable, have to be undertaken from time to time.