asked the Minister for the Marine when it is intended to commence work on Burtonport harbour development, County Donegal; the nature of the work to be carried out; and the estimated cost of project.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Burtonport Harbour.
5.
Commencement of the proposed harbour development work at Burtonport, which consists of dredging the harbour area and its approaches, depends on the availability of funds and suitability of weather conditions. The work will be carried out by contract based on competitive tenders. In such cases it is not policy to disclose the cost estimate. It has not been possible to include Burtonport in the 1987 harbour programme.
I congratulate my colleague, Deputy Gallagher, from Donegal South-West on his appointment to this important portfolio and I wish him every success in it. I will not say that I wish him many long years there but at least success while he is there. Is there an allocation in this year's Estimates for the dredging and extension of Burtonport harbour?
I thank Deputy McGinley for his kind remarks. There is no provision in this year's Estimates for the extension or the dredging of Burtonport harbour. Last year there was an allocation which was not fully expended. I hoped at that time in 1986, while it was not fully expended, that work on Burtonport harbour could have been commenced, but generally most of the works on which finance has been expended this year are ongoing programmes. I think Deputy McGinley got a copy of a list of them yesterday in a written reply. I can assure the Deputy that immediately on assuming office I met the representatives of the fishermen's organisation in Burtonport on 16 or 17 March last. I propose to meet them again on 6 June at Burtonport. I fully appreciate the necessity of dredging the approach channel to Burtonport. Certainly it will be very high on our priority list when we are preparing the Estimates for 1988.
I know the Minister of State is very much aware of the difficulties being encountered in Burtonport at present, the constraints on the further development of the fishing industry and on the fleet at that port. In reply to a parliamentary question of mine on 22 October 1986 the former Minister said he had approved the dredging work there and that financial accommodation was being arranged. Indeed it was common knowledge throughout the north west, particularly in Burtonport, that work was to commence early in 1987. The Minister of State himself is on record as saying in Donegal County Council that he understood from the Department of Fisheries that the operation would be completed by the end of next year — that is 1987— and that the work would have commenced in March 1987. Am I to understand now that there will be no work whatsoever carried out in Burtonport during 1987? In other words, has the outgoing Government's commitment been reneged on?
I will point out to Deputy McGinley that the former Minister, on 22 June 1986, approved only but made no provision even in the Book of Estimates for the dredging of Burtonport harbour prior to the previous Government going out of office. Approval of the works only was given. At that time Donegal County Council agreed to a local contribution of 25 per cent. I must point out to the Deputy that in 1982 there was an allocation of £1 million for Burtonport. By coincidence or otherwise, when the Coalition Government assumed power in that year the Estimate was reduced by £1 million and, as a result, Burtonport lost out. However, at the end of last year, all of the harbour moneys had not been expended. I am surprised that at that time the Minister did not ensure that work commenced. As of now there is no money there. I fully appreciate the Deputy's concern and assure him that it will be high on the priority list for next year. There is no question of this Government reneging on financial commitments given by the previous Government. Approval of the work only had been given.
A Cheann Comhairle——
It must be a brief question. I want to make some progress on this and other questions also.
I should like to quote the Minister of State's own comment from the Donegal Peoples Press of 7 November 1986 which reported he had said that work was expected to start in March on the 800,000 tonne dredging of Burtonport harbour — it was reported that Deputy Pat Cope Gallagher told the Donegal County Council meeting on the previous Friday.
The Deputy is quoting and quotations at Question Time are not in order.
That was a commitment given by the outgoing Government.
We must reach finality on this matter.
In view of the commitment given by the previous Government are we to understand now from the Minister's reply that there will be no work carried out on dredging or extension at Burtonport harbour this year?
I will admit that in October 1986 possibly I was sufficiently naive to believe that when a Minister approved works he would also ensure that finance was made available. Finance was available at that time but the work never commenced. If I give a commitment now I will stand over it. I can assure Deputy McGinley that those works will be high on the priority list for next year and Deputy McGinley will be one of the first to know.