When I reported progress I was dealing with the use of the Asgard as a training vessel for young people who want to learn the art of sailing. I congratulated the Parliamentary Secretary and the Office of Public Works for allowing this vessel to be used for this purpose. This is admirable training for young people and many of them would never get an opportunity like this if it were not for this scheme. The boat is, unfortunately, somewhat small. Perhaps at some stage in the future a second vessel could be acquired and made available for this purpose. Money spent in this way would be well spent. The sum involved here is small, £6,000. I know that young people are very enthusiatic about this. I know that my own town of Wicklow has applied for the use of the vessel for the young people in the area. Possibly a better solution would be to take young people from different areas for training. This would give them an opportunity of meeting one another under very admirable conditions. This is a very historic vessel and I know that it is fully committed for this year. Doubtless the commitments will grow in the future. That is why I suggest the acquisition of a second vessel.
With regard to ports and harbours, a number of fishery harbours have been constructed. This work is hampered to some extent by the conditions laid down in the Second Programme for Economic Expansion. No harbour authority will get money for reconstruction or repair work unless they can prove to the Office of Public Works that the harbour will be used by some trading concern and will be a commercially viable proposition. Most harbour authorities cannot say in advance exactly what trade they may get as a result of reconstruction or repair. The commercial aspect of a port is enhanced if the port is in good repair and trade can be directed to it. I am thinking particularly now of ports like Arklow and Wicklow. Deputy P. Brennan referred to these earlier today. A certain amount of work has been carried out by the Board of Works but a great deal still remains to be done. The fact that ports and harbours must prove that they are commercially viable before any work is done has an inhibiting effect.
In speaking of coast erosion in the Kilcoole area I should have mentioned that the work done on the railway line by the sea there has affected the drainage in the area. According to my information, when the railway line is repaired the drainage of land in the area becomes more difficult. Some years ago when a survey was made with a view to draining the land in the Kilcoole area I believe the cost estimated on that occasion was very large, around the £1 million mark. That was regarded as excessive; perhaps funds of that order were not available but some programme to alleviate flooding in that area will have to be undertaken at some stage. I think some smaller scheme would be of great assistance. Flooding is now taking place at times when it was unknown years ago. I urge the Parliamentary Secretary to re-survey the Kilcoole area with a view to eliminating that flooding.
I wish to mention a matter in which I have a personal interest because in later years I did get an opportunity to play golf. It is regarded by many as a game for the better-off class in the community. The Fianna Fáil Government have claimed that we are all a great deal better off in recent years and perhaps this is so in a number of ways. In any case, more and more people are anxious to play particularly in Dublin city. The problem is due to lack of space and lack of accommodation in existing golf courses and the very few golf courses that are being constructed in the area. Land is the real problem. Its availability for housing and other such purposes must come first but there are areas suitable for nothing else except this type of activity. There are also areas where, perhaps, we would not like any housing which would spoil the amenity such as in the Phoenix Park area.
Some years ago there were plans in the Parliamentary Secretary's office for the construction of a golf course in the Phoenix Park. I heard no reference to it in the introductory speech this year but I think the project should be expedited. The type of person trying to get into the game in the city has no opportunity of doing so and is finding his way down as far as where I live and trying to get in there. He is prepared to travel that distance to indulge in this game. I know others who go to Carlow, Baltray and so on. An effort should be made to accommodate such people in the city. The game is expanding tremendously and I hope the Parliamentary Secretary will make every effort to accommodate these people. As in so many other cases, one requires push and pull to get into golf clubs and the number of vacancies is limited. I hope the Parliamentary Secretary will endeavour to open such municipal courses such as exist in every other country in Europe so that people can have a game of golf without having to pay an exorbitant sum to become a member of a club. These large membership fees are put there to prohibit the class of people I want to see playing golf. Sums such as £1,500 are required to get into city clubs and this is just intended as a barrier to prevent people applying.
I think the Parliamentary Secretary has the interests of the people at heart and I hope he will press on in the future to make more space available close to the city that can be converted into golf courses. This would also provide a tourist amenity by giving cheap golf in an area such as Dublin where golf has become far too expensive for visitors. People are being asked to pay upwards of £1.50 for a round of golf in the larger and more popular clubs and even in smaller ones a game costs more than £1 any afternoon. In the Isle of Man and other similar holiday areas the idea is to have the game available for 50p or 75p and that should be our aim. This can only be done by having municipal golf courses.
In conclusion, I ask the Minister to make a strong effort to provide two or three municipal courses throughout the country not only for visitors but for local people also. I have dealt with most of the problems I wanted to mention.The work being done by the Department is being carried out expeditiously since I have been in this House and I should like to congratulate the Parliamentary Secretary and his officials on the way they are doing their job.
Deputy McLaughlin and Deputy Timmons rose.