asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works intends to charge small boat owners for space for mooring their boats in or near the harbour at Dunmore East, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dunmore East (Waterford) Harbour.
20.
It was publicly announced shortly after the development scheme at Dunmore East harbour had started that it was intended, ultimately, to charge a mooring fee for small craft using the harbour. The question of the lay-out of the moorings is at present being considered in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries after which a decision will be taken as to the amount of the fee and the date from which it will operate.
What facilities will the Parliamentary Secretary make available to small boat owners?
The Deputy was not here in 1963 when the then Parliamentary Secretary, the late Mr. Donogh O'Malley, announced the decision to carry out this development. The Deputy must not even be familiar with the development because there are some facilities there, very good facilities; I have seen them. The decision in 1963 was announced in a press release, which I will make available to the Deputy if he wishes, by the Office of Public Works to the effect that charges would not be made for moorings until the improvement scheme was well advanced. The lay-out has to be done in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Office of Public Works and local yachting interests. The limits of the harbour area will be defined by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and charges will apply only to moorings within that area.
I am very well aware of the facilities available in the harbour. What I am worried about is the fact that there are no facilities outside the harbour and in conscience fees cannot be charged to small boat owners until such time as they have moorings protected against stormy weather. That is not the position and it is not likely to be the position.
The Deputy is quite well aware that, as a result of the extensions, extra safe moorings have become available.
Not outside the harbour.
I have three pages of foolscap here——
The Parliamentary Secretary can have all the foolscap he likes.
This decision was announced by the Department of Lands in 1962 and a further statement was issued by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Office of Public Works in September, 1963.