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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Mar 1943

Vol. 89 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licences for Removal of Sea Sand.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that court proceedings are pending against farmers for carting sea sand from the strand at Tragumina, Skibbereen; if he realises what an important asset this sand is to farmers in the food production schemes when artificial manures are almost unobtainable; and, if so, whether he is prepared to issue licences to farmers of this area to cart sea sand when and where available for manurial purposes.

I am aware that legal proceedings are pending against persons who have removed beach material from the seashore at Tragumina in contravention of the prohibitory order in force in respect of that area. I am also aware, as the Deputy was informed in answer to previous questions, of the importance of sea sand for fertilising purposes. As a special concession, farmers in ten local townlands are allowed to take 15 tons of sand each per year from the prohibited area at Tragumina and I am not prepared to consider an extension of this concession as there has been considerable encroachment of the sea at this place.

It is not the haulage of sand by farmers which has caused this encroachment. They have been hauling sand off that strand for generations and more damage was done by one storm early this year than was done by the carting of sand by farmers for generations. I accept the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, but I should like the farmers to be allowed to take a greater quantity of sand when it is available there. Sand comes in with every tide, and nobody but a fool is going to cart away sand, except that sand which is brought in by the tide. That is not going to cause erosion of any sort.

My information is that the quantity of sand available is very limited and the action taken of prohibiting the carting away of this sand was due to representations made by the Cork County Council.

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