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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Jul 1946

Vol. 102 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Repair of Dunquin Pier.

asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the quay built at Dunquin, County Kerry, by the Office of Public Works, to facilitate the transport of persons and animals to and from the Blasket Islands and to serve the fishing locality, is in a dangerous and practically unusable state; and if he will cause the position there to be examined, with a view to the urgent repair of the quay and the road access thereto, or the provision of more suitable alternative facilities.

I have been in communication with the Kerry County Council on this subject for a considerable time past, and have been informed that when the matter was brought before the commissioner for the council on 26th June, 1945, he ordered that it should be deferred. I have heard nothing further from the council.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary say when the Office of Public Works washed its hands of this pier, which it caused to be built?

Who has informed the Deputy that the Office of Public Works has had that responsibility?

Does the Parliamentary Secretary deny that this quay and road were built by the Government for the local people?

The quay was not. The road was repaired by a grant to which the county council contributed, some ten years ago.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary say that the Government made no contribution and was not directly responsible for the building of the quay there?

It was built by the C.D.B. as far back as 40 years ago.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary say who is the direct descendant of the C.D.B. in respect of this responsibility?

I can say that we have been for years prepared to give a grant to the repair and improvement of this pier, on the same condition that grants are made available to other such works, namely, that when the work is completed the local authority will take responsibility for its maintenance. We have been endeavouring for a number of years past to secure from the Kerry County Council such assurance. That assurance has not been forthcoming and we therefore have not been free and are not now free to go ahead with the work that is undoubtedly desirable.

Is the position that this is a small and concentrated part of the remaining Gaeltacht in Kerry a matter that is of no interest to the Department of Finance when considering the position of this quay and its reaction on the economy, not only of the local people, but particularly on the islanders in the Blaskets?

Would not the Deputy think that these weighty reasons would also be weighty in determining the attitude of the local authority to a matter of this kind?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that we are concerned here with the attitude of the Ministry of Finance?

So am I.

Question No. 13—Deputy Spring.

In April, 1944, the Parliamentary Secretary invited me as a member of the county council to use my influence with other members.

Is this on Question No. 13?

I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary to use his influence with the Minister for Local Government to get the county commissioner to maintain it.

They are prepared to give them £5 a head rather than give them an opportunity of earning their own living.

When was the road repaired before?

Question No. 14, to the Minister for Justice.

Question No. 13.

I called Question No. 13 and I understood Deputy Spring was putting it. Question No. 13.

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