asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works will prepare as a matter of urgency, an engineering report and estimate of cost of improvement works to the pier at West End, Castletownbere, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Pier.
10.
Mr. Kenny
Having regard to present commitments the Commissioners of Public Works cannot at this stage say when they will be in a position to prepare an engineering report and estimate of costs in respect of proposals for improvement works to the pier at West End, Bere Island.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say when exactly the commissioners were asked to submit a report on this matter?
Mr. Kenny
A special survey team set up to carry out an appraisal of the landing facilities required to meet the needs of the fishing industry on the Cork coast recommended in 1972 that an extension of the pier to make it accessible at all stages of tide would be useful mainly from the point of view of communications. That has nothing at all to do with fisheries. It has not been possible to prepare an engineering report and estimate of costs on the survey team's recommendation because of our large workload and a shortage of staff. It was hoped to have the report prepared by one of the resident technical staff engaged on the Castletownbere harbour development project but a further depletion of staff there last year and pressure for the completion of necessary works at Castletownbere fisheries centre, including Dinish Island, prevented this. As soon as we can replenish our staff we will send out a report.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is a real hazard on this pier and that sooner or later a drowning tragedy will occur due to its dangerous condition? In view of this would he ask some inspector from his Department to go down there next week, prepare an estimate and submit it? It would only take one day's work by one man.
Mr. Kenny
That is a rather brief analysis because if one man could do all that work in one day we would have most of the work finished all over Ireland in a few years.
Question No. 11.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary——
I want to make some appreciable progress. We are making very little progress today at Question Time.
The Board of Works are not making progress.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the urgency of improving this pier at West End, Castletownbere?
The Deputy may not debate this matter.
Is he also aware of the fact that landing facilities here are most dangerous?
The Deputy has already mentioned that matter.
Mr. Kenny
I am fully aware of the responsibility entrusted to me but I am also fully aware of the depletion of our technical staff. After all, one man cannot do three men's work.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary a brief supplementary?
The Chair allowed a lot of latitude on this question.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary saying in his last reply that he has not adequate staff at present in the Board of Works?
Mr. Kenny
There is a depletion of technical staff to do this kind of work and it is very difficult to get staff.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give any indication why when technical staff are so freely available elsewhere?
That is another question, Deputy.
Mr. Kenny
The Deputy would like me to say that it is a shortage of money but it is not.
(Dublin Central): Is the reason why technical staff cannot be obtained in the Board of Works because they are not being paid properly?
Mr. Kenny
That is it.