andMr. Keating asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will arrange to have the harbour for fishing boats at Duncannon dredged; if he is aware that it is filled with mud and silt, and during north-west winds the boats have absolutely no shelter in the outer dock and would be in danger of being broken up, and that when kept in the inner dock during bad weather they cannot get out on ebb tide and must wait until half flood, which means that they lose the best of the tides; if he is further aware that the walls along the dock are very rough, and in stormy weather owners cannot moor their boats alongside them; if arrangements will be made for officials of his Department to inspect the place and to advise what alterations or improvements will best remedy the grievance of the local fishermen, and if he is aware that such work will relieve unemployment in the district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dredging of Duncannon Harbour.
I am aware of the condition of Duncannon harbour and the matter has been the subject of correspondence between my Department and Wexford County Council, in whose charge the harbour is. As regards the inner dock, the question which at the moment is being discussed with the county council is whether the necessary clearance could be effected by hand-dredging or whether the use of a steam-dredger would be essential. I understand that the county council intend to have the works necessary to remedy the state of the dock walls carried out in the near future.