asked the Minister for Finance how he proposes to use the land originally acquired for a fisheries research station at Renmore or Murrough, Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Site.
44.
Mr. Kenny
Consideration is being given to the use of this site for the erection of a training centre and weather reporting station for the meteorological service of the Department of Transport and Power.
I am grateful to the Parliamentary Secretary for the reply, but is he aware that his Department informed me last week that no such lands had ever been acquired?
The Deputy rang the wrong Department.
Mr. Kenny
The question of the location of an alternative site for the research station is a matter for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The function of this office is purely executive; it is not one of policy.
The Department of Finance stated that no land was purchased in that area other than the land purchased near Galway Harbour. The Parliamentary Secretary has confirmed that they were wrong. Thank you.
Mr. Kenny
The site at Murrough near Oranmore, Galway, comprising 4,623 acres, was purchased in 1966 for the erection of a fisheries research station for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
I was aware of that.
Mr. Kenny
Why did you write to the Department then?
I had a letter from the Department of Finance stating that no such land had ever been acquired.
Mr. Kenny
To err is human.
We cannot have an argument on this matter.
I find in a lot of the correspondence from Departments that the information given to Deputies on this side of the House is not always correct. We had the example of the Department of Education last week.
Mr. Kenny
When Deputy Molloy was in office the information given by his Government was not always correct either. He must remember that.
That is a glib remark.