asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, with a view to improving and making safe the anchorage for fishing boats at Downings, County Donegal, he will have a survey of the port carried out.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Fishing Ports.
Following representations recently received as to the need for better berthage accommodation at Downings pier, an officer of my Department has made an inspection of the harbour and his report is at present under consideration.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state when it is likely a decision will be reached in relation to the survey which has been made?
I can assure the Deputy there will be no avoidable delay.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary mean that it will be in the near future?
In the near future, yes.
Does that mean a few months, a few weeks or a few years?
No.
It does not.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether any recent progress has been made towards the provision of a new pier and anchorage at Glengad, County Donegal.
The position as regards the provision of improved landing facilities at Portaleen, Glengad, is still as stated in my reply to the Deputy's question on 5th June last.
Am I to take it that some other data were sought from the county engineer and that that data are not yet to hand?
That is so. It is not yet to hand.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary been in touch with this man since?
Inquiries have been made from the Office of Public Works and it is revealed that the county engineer has not yet furnished the information requested in relation to the scheme drawn up by him.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary again, as I requested on the last occasion, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, get in touch with this engineer himself from his own office, rather than through the Board of Works, to see if he can get something from him?
I understand the Deputy is chairman of the county council and I think that, if the Deputy made representations to the county engineer, it might be very effective.
The Parliamentary Secretary is Parliamentary Secretary supposedly responsible for fisheries. I am chairman of the Donegal County Council. I am not responsible for fisheries because I hold that office; but the Parliamentary Secretary is responsible. It is his job. I want to see that he does his job.
As chairman of the Donegal County Council, it is the Deputy's responsibility to see that, if communications are addressed to the county engineer, he answers them.
The engineer is an officer of the Board of Works and I have no liability for his communications.