asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the total amount of grants for harbour development allocated or proposed to be allocated to the Cork Harbour Board; (b) the sum allocated for the development of (i) Cobh Harbour and (ii) the stream above Blackrock bend, and (c) if he has satisfied himself that it is advisable that State money for harbour improvement and development should be expended at the end of the stream whilst the harbour remains undeveloped.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Harbour Development.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the total amount proposed to be expended by the Cork Harbour Board on the development of the port and (b) the amount proposed to be expended on (i) Cobh Harbour and (ii) the stream above Blackrock bend.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
In 1947 a grant to the Cork Harbour Board of a sum not exceeding £350,000 was authorised towards a scheme of works in the upper harbour and the purchase of a dredger for general harbour use. The total cost involved was then estimated at £852,000, but the most recent estimate puts the cost at over £1,312,000. At the same time a grant was approved towards the cost of borrowing by the board for improvement works during the years 1948, 1949 and 1950.
In 1950 a State grant of 90 per cent. of the cost (estimated at £29,000) for the construction of improved accommodation for transatlantic liner passengers at Cobh Railway Station was authorised. Early this year the harbour board were informed that if they proceeded with their proposals for the widening and deepening of the liner anchorage at Cobh (estimated to cost £74,000) a grant of £50,000 would be made available from State funds.
In the case of all these works the balance of the cost falls to be met by the Cork Harbour Board. I am not in a position to state the total amount proposed to be expended by the harbour board on the development of the port because the improvements are not necessarily confined to works for which grants are made available, and because the harbour board have recently indicated that having regard to the increase in their share of the cost of extensions and improvements it may not be possible for them to complete all the works contemplated.