asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the loss of a motor boat recently at Portaleen, Glengad, County Donegal, has brought the total of boats destroyed there in recent years to nine; and, if so, whether he intends to take steps at an early date to implement the engineer's report for the construction of a new pier there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Construction of Pier.
I understand that during the past ten years some fishing boats have been lost for lack of shelter at their moorings off Portaleen. The engineering report furnished to me indicates that the provision there of adequate shelter for the local fishing fleet would entail expenditure of the order of £150,000; and that the best that could be done within a practicable figure of outlay would be the improvement of the existing mooring arrangements under the lee of Mullandoo Rock together with an extension of the spending beach adjoining the present pier and the provision of better facilities for the slipping of boats. In really bad weather conditions there would seem to be no alternative to the Portaleen fishermen availing themselves of the relatively near Greencastle Harbour as a place of shelter or refuge. I propose to have the whole matter discussed with the Donegal County Council on this basis.