asked the Minister for Fisheries whether he can state if the report of the Irish Land Commission's Inspector for Donegal, relative to the proposed construction of a bridge at Morass Ferry, County Donegal, has been considered, and, if so, to what decision the Irish Land Commission has come in the matter; (b) if he can state why a communication from Very Rev. Canon Gallagher, P.P., Tamney, County Donegal, relative to this matter was not acknowledged by the Land Commission.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MORASS FERRY BRIDGE (DONEGAL).
A report has been received on the question of the construction of a bridge at Morass Ferry, Co. Donegal. Owing to the expenditure which this work would involve, the Land Commission do not propose undertaking it. The inspection was made in response to the representations made by the Deputy and Canon Gallagher.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Congested Districts Board proposed to construct this bridge some years ago and that the estimated cost at that time was only £6,000? In view of the fact that some farmers are becoming bankrupt owing to the fact that they have no means of going to markets with their produce, will the Parliamentary Secretary take steps to investigate this?
The construction of this bridge presents many engineering difficulties. To begin with, the bridge is over 1,000 feet in width. At low tide the water is eighteen feet in depth and at high tide thirty feet. The bridging of this river is not a matter for the Land Commission so much as the Office of Public Works, and I think the initiative in this instance should come from the county council.
If the county council agree to contribute a portion, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider the giving of the remainder?
I have told the Deputy that this is really a matter for the Office of Public Works and not for the Land Commission.