asked the Minister for Finance if, to enable Innishkeeragh islanders and other fishermen to procure a safe anchorage on the west end of Arranmore Island, he will have a breakwater erected between the Chapel Strand landing slip and the rock to the south-east of the landing slip.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Erection of Breakwater.
The proposed construction of a breakwater at Chapel Strand was first brought to the notice of my office in 1934, and was investigated with a number of other proposals to provide a major landing place in Arranmore Island. After full consideration of the various sites, it was decided to develop the landing place at Leabgarrow. The major work there was later undertaken at a cost of £2,000 and, meanwhile, some minor improvements were carried out at Chapel Strand harbour. The cost of the proposed breakwater at Chapel Strand would run into some thousands of pounds, and it is not considered that such expenditure would now be justified.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that we have not one safe anchorage on the island, despite the spending of these thousands of pounds and that the course I suggest is the only one which would give safe anchorage, not only to Arranmore, but to Innishkeeragh and other islands in the immediate vicinity?
I understand that two other piers are under consideration for improvement: Aphort and Cloughcor.
I am talking about safe anchorages, not piers.