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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Nov 1950

Vol. 123 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rineanna Flying Boats Scheme.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate the dates on which the work of providing water space for flying boats at Rineanna was commenced and later abandoned and if he will indicate the amount of money used on this project and whether it is probable that it will ever serve any useful purpose in relation to aviation.

Work on the project for providing suitable anchorage for flying boats at Rineanna was commenced in April, 1939, and was substantially completed by December, 1941. Minor works continued for some time after that date and in September, 1945, when the transatlantic airlines changed over to land planes, further work on the project was discontinued.

The official records of expenditure from voted moneys do not enable precise figures of cost of individual works to be determined. From the information available, however, it is estimated that the cost of providing the anchorage at Rineanna amounted to about £96,900.

The embankments constructed in connection with the anchorage serve a useful purpose in protecting the airport lands from inundation from the River Shannon. At present it does not seem likely that the anchorage will be used for flying boats, but it is not possible to make any definite pronouncement regarding future developments in civil aviation.

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