asked the Minister for Local Government whether a decision has yet been reached in regard to the proposal to improve the main landing place at Inis Thoir, as an alternative to the proposal to carry out marine work at Corr Áit, and, if not, what is the cause of the delay?
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aran Pier.
The answer to the first part of the question is "No".
The delay has been caused by reason of the fact that I am not yet satisfied that the alternative landing place improvement, mentioned by the Deputy, is a work that should be undertaken out of the National Development Fund as an alternative to the Corr Áit proposal originally put forward.
Does the Minister's reply mean that he intends to go ahead with the expenditure of £8,000 on the place at Corr Áit and that, when he has completed that work, he will then consider repairs to the main job on the island, namely, the pier?
That is not the reply I gave to that. The Deputy should read the reply.
May I ask the Minister if he would mind repeating the original answer?
Certainly. The delay has been caused by reason of the fact that I am not yet satisfied that the alternative landing place improvement, mentioned by the Deputy, is a work that should be undertaken out of the National Development Fund as an alternative to the Corr Áit proposal originally put forward.
"As an alternative to the Corr Áit proposal". Does the Minister's reply mean that he is standing over the Corr Áit proposal until such time as he may decide that the island pier is the better proposition?
It does not. The Minister has a completely open mind until he is convinced otherwise. The Deputy, when Parliamentary Secretary, received a report from his advisers advising that Corr Áit would be a much better position than the new pier. Other advisers advised the very opposite, that the new pier would be the better proposal instead of Corr Áit. I have got to satisfy myself as to which of these proposals is the better and it is for that reason that I have not taken a decision.
Could the Minister say whether the engineers who reported on Corr Áit were the same engineers who went back to Inis Thoir, amended their original report and recommended the expenditure of £11,000 on the improvement of pier?
I am not yet satisfied that the engineers' propositions only influenced them.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to raise this question on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.