asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a request for information on certain quay configurations and surrounding beaching areas from a marine consultant employed by North West Clare Development Organisation (details supplied); and, if so, when this information will be made available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clare Beaching Areas.
24.
Mr. Kenny
Such a request has been received and in reply the Office of Public Works has invited a marine consultant to inspect their records and told him that copies of those of interest are obtainable.
When was this invitation extended to the marine consultant?
Mr. Kenny
I will give the Deputy the whole story. I will mention the man's name—Mr. Williams.
The only reason why the question was put down was because of the long delay in receiving a reply from the Office of Public Works. The Parliamentary Secretary has now informed me that an invitation has been extended to him. When was that invitation extended?
Mr. Kenny
When the naval architect and marine consultant telephoned the Office of Public Works on 7th April, 1975, he was told what was available and that it could be examined by him when convenient. In a letter on the same day the person involved confirmed the purpose of his inquiries. He did not respond immediately and on the 24th June, 1975, an official letter confirmed to him that the material was available for inspection and that copies of such drawings as might be of interest could be made, subject to charge. There was no delay.
The reply issued on the 24th June. There was no correspondence until the question was put down. This man resides in England and he has carried out a part of the survey on the site. To complete his report he requires certain maps and documents. Is it reasonable to expect that he should have to travel to the Office of Public Works to obtain this information? Would it not be much more reasonable if it were forwarded to him at his address in England to allow him to complete the report which is urgently awaited by the North West Clare Development Organisation?
Mr. Kenny
He did not travel at all. He telephoned on the 7th April and he did not respond to a letter until the 24th June. If there was any delay it was his own fault.
Did the Parliamentary Secretary say that a letter issued from the Office of Public Works on 24th June?
Mr. Kenny
Yes.
Are the Office of Public Works prepared to forward the documents which he requested to him?
Mr. Kenny
Yes. They said they were available for his inspection at any time, subject to charge.
Question No. 25.
They are prepared to send them on to him?
Mr. Kenny
Yes.
I cannot allow the Deputy a series of questions.
Will the Office of Public Works forward the documents to this man at his address in England?
Mr. Kenny
I cannot see any reason why they should not.
That is grand. That will solve the whole problem. Will the Parliamentary Secretary arrange for that next week?
Mr. Kenny
The information requested is contained in voluminous schedules, maps and drawings held by the Office of Public Works engineers. If they are in a voluminous state they may not be able to give him the whole lot.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the information requested relates in particular to New Quay, to Ballyvaughan and Gleninagh? The areas were, in fact, named and there would not be voluminous amounts of documents involved in regard to those few areas.
Mr. Kenny
I do not want the Deputy to be under any misapprehension about this. I want him to get this information absolutely correct. I do not want to be misinterpreted— again. I will give him the information I have.
The information requested is contained in voluminous schedules, maps, drawings and so on, held by the Office of Public Works engineers. When Mr. F.R. Williams, naval architect and marine consultant, of Twickenham, telephoned the Office of Public Works engineers on 7th April, 1975, he was told what was available and that it could be examined by him when convenient. By letter on the same day Mr. Wililams confirmed the purpose of his inquiry. Mr. Williams did not respond immediately, and on the 24th June, 1975, an official letter confirmed to him that the material was available for inspection and that copies of such drawings as might be of interest could be made, subject to charge. Mr. Williams wants, in connection with an investigation for CIE, details of quay configuration and surrounding beaching areas in relation to the harbour facilities at Rossaveal and Kilronan, Inis Mór. He requires similar information in relation to piers and harbours at Liscannor, Doolin, Gleninagh and Ballyvaughan for the North West Clare Development Organisation. The Office of Public Works do not know the nature or extent of these investigations. The County Clare Coastal Survey Team furnished a confidential report on ports and landing places in the county to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries in 1970. That is all the information I have.
Is it possible to send by post to this gentleman the information he requests?
I am getting off this question.
Mr. Kenny
I think it is, for a fee.
The fee will be paid. That is no problem. Will the Parliamentary Secretary arrange to do that?
Mr. Kenny
Many people say that but may not turn up with the payment at all.
A Cheann Comhairle, I had a question down on Thursday——
Is the Deputy raising a supplementary on this question?
I had a question down on Thursday about a CPI related savings scheme. It appeared on Thursday's Order Paper but it is not on today's Order Paper. I am not challenging your ruling but I want to know whether it happens that a question which has already appeared on the Order Paper is later removed. The Minister acceded to my request to start a CPI related savings scheme in his budget speech. Has it happened before that a question has been removed from the Order Paper?
The Deputy has me at a disadvantage. I do not know what precisely he is referring to.
He is referring to a question which was on Thursday's Order Paper and which has been removed.
I will look into the matter.