asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what proposals, if any, have been made to advance moneys to Irish harbour authorities by way of grant or loan to enable them to make allowances or loans to the members of the pilot services whose earnings have been depleted and in many cases have completely disappeared owing to the scarcity of ships coming to Irish ports due to war conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Position of Pilot Services.
An application for a loan has reached me indirectly from the pilots licensed by the Sligo Pilotage Authority. I have no funds available from which such loans could be made and the applicants have been so informed.
I have facilitated the making of bye-laws by certain pilotage authorities to enable the reduced earnings of pilots to be supplemented to a limited extent out of accumulated moneys in their Pilots' Benefit Funds.