asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries his Department's plans to develop the oyster production in the Clarinbridge area, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oyster Production.
11.
I propose to grant an oyster fishery order under the Fisheries Acts 1959 to 1974 to the Clarinbridge Oyster Co-operative Society Ltd. in respect of part of Galway Bay. This should facilitate the improvement of the oyster fishery in the area. Before the order can be granted, however, it will be necessary for the society to make certain amendments to its rules. My Department have indicated to the society the amendments to be made.
The Parliamentary Secretary mentioned Galway Bay. The portion I was talking about is at Clarinbridge. May I remind the Parliamentary Secretary that some time ago he received a deputation and there were certain plans for the development. Have those plans been proceeded with? I refer to the development in the Clarinbridge area, south of Galway Bay.
As the Deputy has said, I met a deputation of Oireachtas Members for the Galway/Mayo area together with members of the cooperative society. I was most impressed by the case they made. So were the officers of the Department who attended on that day. I decided to grant the order subject to the requirements laid down on the day the matter was discussed with the deputation in Leinster House.
There is something further I would like to ask. With the recent interest on the part of many thousands of tourists and the obvious potential of a beneficial local industry and also because of the accepted virility-inducing food qualities of oysters, could the Parliamentary Secretary say when progress will be made?
I wrote to the Clarinbridge Oyster Co-operative Society on 21st April, 1975, informing them that on receipt of confirmation that the rules were amended approval would issue forthwith. That is two to three months ago. So far I have not had a communication from the society, but I can assure the Deputy that if and when the society report to me approving of the necessary amendments which were agreed to on the day the matter was discussed with the deputation in Leinster House I will make the order without delay.
I thank the Parliamentary Secretary publicly for his very individual help to Clarinbridge Oyster Development Company.