den Aire Tionscail agus Tráchtála an raghaidh sé i gcomhairle le C.I.E. féachaint an bhféadfaidis bád-sheirbhís a bheith acu chuile lá idir Árainn agus Ros-a-Mhíl sa gcaoi go bhféadfadh muintir Árainn bheith i Ros-a-Mhíl ar maidin in am le haghaidh an bus d'fháil go Gaillimh agus bheith ar ais sa mbaile in Árainn an oíche chéanna.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bád-sheirbhís d'Árainn.
D'fhiafraí
Seán Mac Eochagáin
The question of providing a service between Rossaveal and the Aran Islands was considered some time ago as a possible alternative to the Galway-Aran service. I understand, however, that the depth of water at Rossaveal is sufficient only for a few hours each side of high tide to accommodate a vessel of the kind needed to cater for the Aran service. I understand that to enable any regular service to be operated safely between Rossaveal and the Aran Islands, even on a shifting time-table dependent on the tide, would necessitate the provision of navigational facilities and the execution of certain minimum works at Rossaveal at a cost of £60,000-£100,000. To enable a regular daily service to be operated independent of the tide, it would be necessary to construct a proper harbour with adequate depth alongside the pier and in the approach channel. Because of the rock bottom at Rossaveal the cost of providing sufficient depth at low water to accommodate a vessel of 8 ft. 6 in. draught would be of the order of £100,000. The Deputy will appreciate that in the circumstances the provision of the daily return service suggested by him would be altogether impracticable.
Is it necessary to have these deep-water facilities for a motor-boat which would give a daily service? Is it necessary to spend £60,000 on putting that pier further out into the sea?
To provide a service between Aran and Rossaveal comparable with the services provided between Aran and Galway would necessitate the carrying out of these alterations, especially if transport of the same kind and capacity as operates between Aran and Galway is desired. It is considered that it would be quite impossible to provide the equivalent of the Aran-Galway service with the facilities now available at Rossaveal.
Is the Minister aware that there is no need whatever to provide exactly the same facilities between Aran and Rossaveal as between Galway and the Aran Islands? There is no need for transport arrangements for cattle, etc., to be made available from Rossaveal to the islands but merely a transport service to carry people and mails back and fourth on a daily basis between Rossaveal and the islands. That would not necessitate the expenditure suggested by the Minister.
Seán Mac Eochagáin:
Do chuala mé freagra an Aire. Níl mé sásta ar chor ar bith. Bhí bád-sheirbhís ann bliana ó shoin, seirbhís le haghaidh daoine agus seirbhís poist. Sin é an rud atá mé ag iarraidh a chur ar ais.