asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the grave hardship being imposed on fishermen at Kilmore Quay, County Wexford, through the failure of his Department to carry out adequate dredging operations at Kilmore Quay Harbour, that sand and mud have silted up the harbour so much that small fishing boats can enter and leave the harbour only at high tide; that an effort to dredge the harbour this summer was a complete failure because the wrong type of dredger was used; and, further, that because of the condition of the harbour, the fishermen are prevented from securing bigger boats and so extending their fishing operations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilmore Quay Harbour, County Wexford.
Kilmore Quay Harbour is in charge of the Wexford County Council, and the question of maintenance dredging there is a matter for the council. It is understood that the dredging work done in the harbour during the past summer was carried out by that body.
The Minister has some responsibility for the harbour in any case. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there was a grab type of dredger used, with the result that the sand taken up in the grab ran through it like a sieve and that the £400 expended was sheer waste, as photographs which I have in my possession and which were taken after the work was done, will show?
The Deputy seems toignore the fact that this matter is the responsibility of the Wexford County Council and whatever waste has been experienced in carrying out maintenance work is a matter for which the county council is completely responsible. It is possible that what the Deputy says with regard to the machinery being unsuitable is true.
There was a waste of £400.
That is the county council's responsibility.