asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when it is intended to carry out the improvement of Cobh Harbour which, when completed, would enable transatlantic liners to enter the inner harbour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cobh Harbour Improvements.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the Government policy on the complete development of Cobh Harbour and if it is the immediate intention to erect a jetty at the deep water quay to facilitate the berthing of liners and enable passengers to disembark on that quay and thus provide a facility which would be an immense advantage to the people of Cobh in general.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
The position in regard to proposed improvement works at Cobh Harbour was indicated in reply to questions in Dáil Éireann on 19th March and 8th April, 1952. The examination of proposals in regard to the deep water quay which had been submitted in 1947 was not completed when the then Government decided in 1948 that consideration of all applications for expenditure on harbour improvements should be postponed. Subsequently, other proposals for the improvement of the passenger handling facilities at Cobh and the deepening of the liner anchorage were put forward. A grant towards the improvement of the passenger handling facilities was made and the work is now almost complete. Early this year the Cork Harbour Commissioners were informed that if they proceeded with their proposals for the widening and deepening of the liner anchorage at Cobh to enable transatlantic liners to enter the inner harbour, a State grant of £50,000 would be made available towards the cost of the works which are estimated to cost £74,000. The question of financing this work is at present the subject of correspondence with the harbour commissioners and I am not able to say when the proposed works may be carried out.
Surely the Minister is aware that Cobh Harbour is the harbour of the country and that, as a matter of fact, it is the key to the Atlantic; and would he not accept this work as a national debt instead of imposing the charge on people who may not be able to meet the impositions? Could he not take the responsibility of doing the whole improvement himself?
I think a State grant of £50,000 towards the cost of these works is a fairly generous contribution from the national Exchequer.
I quite agree with that, but it is not a parochial or local affair. It is a national one, pure and simple.