asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state how many harbours in this country have freezing plants available for the processing of catches landed by our fishermen, and if the existing plants are capable of dealing with such supplies as are landed in all seasons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Harbour Freezing Plants.
There is only one fishing harbour adequately equipped with the facilities referred to. The need for such facilities at harbours as part of the general scheme for the development of the fishing industry is recognised.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary care to indicate which harbour it is that has the facilities?
Killybegs. I may inform the Deputy that there are facilities privately owned in Dublin, Cork and Sligo.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary care to indicate if it is proposed to install such facilities in Kilmore, County Wexford, in the near future?
It is the intention of the board to proceed with the installation of these facilities at all the wellknown strategic fishing points around the coast but, as the Deputy will recognise, the process is obviously a slow one. The procurement of the machinery is a special difficulty, I understand.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give any indication as to when these facilities will be extended. The answer appears to be that only one harbour—Killybegs—has such facilities.
I understand that the board will begin the installation of a second station in the next couple of months.