asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he proposes to make further moneys available to Drogheda Harbour Commissioners for the resurfacing of roads and quays.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drogheda Road and Quay Surfacing.
10.
Drogheda Harbour Commissioners have recently carried out under contract major quay repair and reconstruction work including resurfacing of quays and quay roads. State aid in the form of a loan of £60,000 from the local loans fund was made available to the commissioners towards the cost of resurfacing. The commissioners, however, contracted for more extensive road and other repair works than originally planned and now find that they have not the resources to pay for them. They have applied to me for further State assistance and I am having the whole matter investigated.
Would the Minister favourably consider the application?
I will have to look at it again. The commissioners applied to my Department for permission to do certain work in Drogheda. They were given that permission and the method of financing was arranged through the local loans fund. The commissioners, without coming back to my Department, went further than they were given permission to go and now find they have not the money to pay for these further works for which they did not receive approval. We have asked them for their up-to-date financial position. They supplied that in the last couple of weeks but it was, from the point of view of my officials, inadequate as regards what we were looking for. We have written to them in the last few days asking for additional information. When I get that I will examine the whole position again.
Would the Minister not agree that the commissioners were placed in a rather embarrassing situation?
I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I was placed in a very embarrassing position.
Would the Minister not agree that if he gave the money to the harbour commissioners nobody would be in an embarrassing position?
Certainly, but we made the money available to the harbour commissioners who then spent further sums and came back looking for that money. If every local authority or harbour commission in the country were to spend money and then apply for permission afterwards to spend it on the basis that if the Department did not supply it to them they would go bankrupt it would be impossible to run any Department.
Question No. 11.
When did the Minister's Department give permission to the Drogheda Harbour Commissioners for permission to obtain a loan from the local loans fund?
I am sorry, I have not got that information.