asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that sea-faring vessels, trawlers and cargo ships, have to call sometimes for supplies of fresh water at Castletownbere; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that the service there is inadequate, he will permit such vessels to take their supplies from Furious Pier, which is under the control of his Department, and provide the necessary facilities for taking water supplies, for which they are prepared to pay on a basis comparable to the cost of water supplies in similarly situated ports on the south coast of Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fresh Water Supplies for Sea-faring Vessels.
Applications for the supply of water from Furious Pier have been received from time to time. The attitude adopted to such applications has been that non-State vessels should only be supplied from the State supply at Furious Pier in an emergency and when supplies permit. It has recently been represented that the pier at Castletownbere is in a rather unstable condition which renders it dangerous to ships. In these circumstances, I am prepared to permit non-State vessels to take supplies from Furious Pier, subject to a charge which will be based on the current rate of charging in the area.