asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware of the extremely heavy freight charges levied on the people of Castletownbere Peninsula; and, if so, whether he will consider the re-commissioning of the Princess Bere and reopening the sea line from Castletownbere to Bantry, or alternatively providing other economical transport.
Written Answers to Questions. - Freight Charges for Castletownbere
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the fact that the people on Bere Island will shortly be loading cattle for fairs on the mainland, he will ensure that the ship used for transportation is repaired as soon as possible.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together.
I understand that there is a motorboat available for the transport of cattle between Bere Island and the mainland.
In view of the heavy losses incurred by the steamer service and the cost of having further repairs done to the vessel, the Bantry Bay Steamship Company terminated the steamer service in 1946. The Minister for Industry and Commerce had no power to prevent the stoppage of the service. A proposal by Córas Iompair Éireann to provide a lorry service to serve the whole peninsula was considered to be the most satisfactory means of dealing with traffic in the area.
The charges for the lorry service are according to the scale applicable to the whole country. I am informed that these charges are much lower than those which would be required for the economic operation of the steamer service if it were resumed. I have no power to require a resumption of the service.