asked the Minister for Finance to state the reasons why it is proposed to lease the three oil tanks at Haulbowline to the Queenstown Dry Docks Shipbuilding and Engineering Company free of any payment.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - OIL TANKS AT HAULBOWLINE.
With the object of relieving unemployment in Cobh and the neighbourhood by keeping the business of the Queenstown Dry Docks Shipbuilding Company going, the payment from the Relief Schemes Vote of a contribution amounting to ten per cent. of the sums paid in wages by the Queenstown Dry Docks Shipbuilding and Engineering Company to men engaged in shipbuilding or ship-repairing work in respect of whom contributions were being paid under the Unemployment Insurance Acts was sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, for the period from the 1st October, 1924, to the 31st March, 1925. As a result of renewed representations the continuance of the arrangement was sanctioned by the Minister for a second period of six months, and on further representations at the end of that period the arrangement was continued for a third period of six months, which ended on the 31st March, 1926.
It was not possible to entertain applications made for a renewal of this contribution owing to the fact that no provision was made from the beginning of the last financial year until recently for financing new relief works. In the circumstances, and with a view to facilitating the company in continuing to do business at Cobh, it was agreed to let them have the free use of three of the five oil tanks at Haulbowline and the occasional free use of the dock there. These tanks are used by the company to store oil from the bunkers of ships requiring repairs, which if there were no storage for oil available, could not be dealt with at Cobh. This concession can be terminated at any time on six months' notice should a decision be come to as to the future of the dockyard. It is made entirely with a view to relieving unemployment.
Is the Minister aware of the amount of employment given by the Queenstown Dry Docks Shipbuilding and Engineering Company since they got these tanks?
That is another question.