asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has received an application from the Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour Commissioners for a grant for the improvement of these harbours and for the installation of navigational aids; and if so, what his decision in the matter was.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbours.
An application for a grant for improvement works at Baltimore and Skibbereen harbour and for the installation of navigational aids has been received in my Department. The piers and boat-slips are maintained by the county council and the quays at Skibbereen by the Skibbereen Urban District Council. The harbour authority are responsible only for the maintenance of Sherkin Light. This light is of importance for local fishing boats. The harbour authority were empowered in 1943 to collect rates on fish landed at the harbour, but do not appear to have done so. They have been informed that before the application for a grant from public funds can be considered they will need to establish that the revenue available from a full collection of harbour rates would be insufficient to meet the cost of the proposed works.
Is the Minister aware that over a period of seven months the total levy collected by the Harbour Commissioners only amounted to £27 or £28, so that even if the levy were increased by 100 per cent. it would still not be sufficient to maintain the harbour in the way it should be maintained?
I understand that the harbour authorities are not collecting the rates on fish landed at all.
My information from the secretary is that they are, and that in seven months they collected on fish landed only the sum of £8 12s. 6d. There is only a sum of £2 due. Would the Minister be prepared to receive a deputation so that the figures might be put before him?
I would ask the Deputy to bear in mind what I stated in my reply, that if the harbour authorities show that they are, in fact, collecting all the rates which they could collect and that the total collection is insufficient to defray the cost of the works, then the question of a grant will be considered.
Will the Minister be prepared to receive a deputation in the near future so that all the figures may be put before him?
I shall certainly arrange for a deputation to be received.
Thank you.