Vol. 418 No. 4
32 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine the reason funds for dredging at Courtmacsherry have been withdrawn; if he will give details of the works already done and the cost thereof; if he will outline the proposals and costings to complete the job; whether funding will be restored for that purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A special State grant of £100,000 was provided for in the 1991 Estimates for my Department to part fund a dredging project at Courtmacsherry harbour. The grant was subject to normal Government accounting procedures. Under these procedures payments can only be made on vouched receipts and any grant or part of a grant which remains unexpended at the end of the financial year, 31 December, must be surrendered to the Exchequer. The dredging works estimated to cost a total of £220,000, were needed so that the offshore lifeboat service operated from Courtmacsherry by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution could have safe launching at all stages of the tide.
The dredging works commenced in August 1991. A month later the contractor withdrew from the project having at that stage completed about 25 per cent of the work. At this point £11,400 from the State grant had been paid to the contractor. The balance of £88,600 was not drawn down because by the time the project managers had engaged another contractor it was too late in the year for dredging works. Furthermore, it was too late to have the necessary provision made in the 1992 Estimates.
I understand that £176,000 approximately is required to complete the Courtmacsherry dredging project. At present, I am examining the Vote for my Department to see if it is possible to make savings in other areas so that the unexpended balance of the 1991 grant or at least part of it could be met in 1992, so that this essential work can be recommenced as soon as possible.
