asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will say whether he has received a report from the consulting engineer for Youghal Urban District Council concerning the necessity for improving the harbour; and, if so, what action he intends to take.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youghal Harbour.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether he is prepared to give a grant for the improvement of Youghal harbour.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.
The report to which the Deputy refers was received in my Department on the 15th March, 1951, and is being examined.
I should inform the Deputy, however, that the circumstances of Youghal harbour were considered very fully last year on proposals which had previously been submitted by the harbour commissioners, and that the Government decided in July, 1950, that the making of a grant from State funds towards the costs of the proposed works would not be justified. That decision is unlikely to be modified unless it is found on examination that the report received on the 15th March contains new grounds of a substantial nature in favour of a State grant.
Is the Minister aware that the very same answer was made to me by a former Minister with regard to the customs sheds at Cobh and, after a colonel in the American army expressed his views, the opinion of the Department changed overnight? Could we get E.C.A. or some other outside influence to do something with regard to Youghal, which is very hard hit, and give them an opportunity there of developing their trade through the development of the harbour?
On a point of accuracy, or correction, the very same answer could not have been given with regard to Cobh, because this answer hinges around a report received on the 15th March.
I know that, but you qualified that by expressing a certain hope. You said you did not think anything could be done.
A certain prognosis, not a hope.
Can the Minister give any reason why Youghal Harbour should be placed in a different category from other harbours of a similar size, where considerable financial grants were given during the past few years? Is he further aware that owing to the depletion of the harbour funds, occasioned by the last war, the harbour board is unable to undertake the work that is proposed to be carried out without State aid? These are very important matters for Youghal. As a member of the harbour commissioners I may say my colleagues feel it keenly that harbours of a similar size got grants and we have been overlooked, although we have made repeated applications to the Department. I had a question down some months ago in connection with the matter referred to by Deputy Keane. I hope the Government will give it their serious attention. We need the money badly to keep the harbour in a proper state of repair.
The representations made will be considered in conjunction with the report of the 15th March, but that is not holding out any hope to either Deputy Keane or Deputy O'Gorman.
Why should Youghal be discriminated against?
I might answer very definitely that there is no discrimination against Youghal in that sense. If you look into the finances and the general circumstances arising, you will find that there is a reason for certain discrimination between different areas and different harbours.
Well, certainly, there seems to be a lot of discrimination against our harbour.