asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will arrange a grant of £40,000 to clear and suck the berthage accommodation at Renard Pier, Caherciveen, County Kerry, which is heavily silted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Caherciveen (Kerry) Pier.
4.
A State grant was provided some years ago for dredging the harbour at Renard Point pier, Cahirciveen, to a depth of 12 feet at mean low water of spring tide to meet the requirements of the local fishing fleet. Kerry County Council who have responsibility for the harbour agreed to maintain this depth as a condition of the State grant. Grants are not available from my Department for maintenance dredging.
A request was made to my Department last October to provide berthage at the pier for a freighter which would be taking on frozen mackerel. From inquiries made, my Department ascertained that the vessel in question is 200 feet in length and draws 18 feet of water. My Department have requested the Office of Public Works to report on the feasibility of providing sufficient depth to give the freighter berthage at the pier without endangering the structure of the pier, and to estimate the cost of such a proposal.
Until this report has been received, my Department will not be in a position to decide whether such a project would be feasible and economically justifiable in the fisheries interests.
Is the Minister aware that there are 37 jobs at stake there? A number of employees have already lost their jobs because of factory closures in the area. Would the Minister do everything in his power to see that something will be done quickly to clear this berthage? The clearance of the silt will require much more work than the maintenance job done by Kerry County Council. It is vital that something be done, at a time when we are talking about the development of the fishing industry, to re-employ those who lost their jobs through factory closures.
I assure the Deputy that when the report reaches me I will take the necessary steps to look after the fishing interests there.
Would the Minister not agree that he has been waiting for five months for this report from the OPW and that this is far too long? Will he send them a reminder? Will Deputy O'Connor have a chat with Deputy McEllistrim about it?
The request was made to the Office of Public Works on 26 October 1980. It involves the dredging of a berthage of 200 feet but it is thought there may be danger in increasing the level by more than one foot.