asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate the present position regarding the development of Castletownbere Harbour, County Cork; and whether it is proposed to provide berthage facilities for the Irish Lights vessel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Castletownbere (Cork) Harbour Development.
4.
The Commissioners of Public Works are ready to go ahead with this work but, before they can do so, it is necessary to acquire certain foreshore property and interests. The negotiations for purchase have not proceeded as well as we would like because of difficulties of title etc. and it may be that legislation will be necessary. I can assure the Deputy that the matter is being pursued and a start on the work will be made at the earliest possible date.
The works are primarily for fishery purposes and are not designed to cater for the Irish Lights vessel. The matter of berthage facilities for their vessel has recently been raised formally by the Irish Lights Commissioners and is being considered.
Will the Minister not agree that we have been getting that type of answer from him for the past number of years and will he not agree that this project was supposed to begin in the past three years or even earlier? I think the Department is joking about this matter because the Minister would surely agree that the difficulties about acquisition of foreshore rights which he mentioned are difficulties put forward by his own Department.
The Deputy is making a speech.
No, I am contending that the Minister should agree with my statement that if he made an impartial examination of the files on this proposed development of Castletownbere harbour, he would find that it is his Department that is responsible for the hold-up in the acquisition of foreshore rights.
I cannot agree that it is only a joke.
It seems to me it is being treated as a big joke but it is really a very serious matter.
There is no joke. We have provided £230,000 for the development of this harbour and that is a very large amount of money.
You have provided the money but you are not expending it. All you have expended so far is talk about it.
But the money will be expended.
It was supposed to have been provided four years ago and the work was supposed to start but, by deliberate action, the Minister's Department are holding up the work.
No.
I am sure if you examine some of the facts about the proposed acquisition of rights, you will find they are a joke.