asked the Minister for Agriculture if his Department have any plans to build an embankment across Poulnasherry Bay at Moyasta, Kilrush, County Clare, with a view to reclaiming a vast area of land.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clare Land Reclamation.
6.
My Department have no such plans.
Would the Minister arrange to have an up-to-date survey of the cost carried out because of the vast area which would be reclaimed in this area?
My note says that a soil survey of the bay was carried out by this Department in the early fifties for the purpose of determining its potential for agricultural purposes and a report on the findings was published in 1954. The survey showed that reclamation of the area would present a number of difficulties because of the high saline content of the soil. It was also clear from the survey that the drainage of the bay would not be an economic proposition.
In view of the advances made with the type of machinery needed for the building of the embankment, would the Minister consider having another survey carried out with the purpose of having the work undertaken?
I could ask the officials to have another look at it.
In the event of this survey being completed, will the Minister consider having compensation paid to the many farmers and others who live around the bay because they make a very good living saving seaweed? They supply it to the local seaweed factory which depends almost entirely on the weed obtained from this bay to remain in operation.
The Deputy is raising another matter.
Is the Minister aware that there is no local demand at the moment because they have this additional income from saving weed?
They want more land.
Before this scheme is finalised, the Minister would have to compensate farmers.
The Deputy is extending the question.
I have been advised by my officials that it was considered that the cost of reclamation would be prohibitive in relation to any benefits which might result and, in any event, that there were many other areas in west Clare much more suitable for reclamation and at less cost than Poulnasherry Bay. As regards the point raised by Deputy Taylor, all these matters would have to be taken into consideration if the position was to be reconsidered.
Will the Minister have another look at this?
I will ask my officials why they are satisfied that it is not an economic proposition.
Will the Minister arrange to have an up-to-date survey?
It is never difficult to satisfy the civil service not to do something.