asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has yet received any proposals from the Wexford County Council with regard to the improvement of Kilmore harbour; and, if not, if he will request the county council to submit their proposals in view of the very unsatisfactory state of the harbour at present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilmore (Wexford) Harbour.
I have received proposals from the Wexford County Council for dredging at Kilmore harbour with a request that a State grant be provided towards the cost of the work. The maintenance of this harbour is the responsibility of the council and, as the work proposed is regarded as maintenance, the council has been informed that the matter is one for the council itself and not a case in which a State grant could be provided.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say when that information was conveyed to the county council?
I think last October.
Could the Minister indicate what the county council's proposal was, because so far as my opinion goes, it does not appear to be ordinary maintenance work? It is a question of repairs in my opinion.
The work is work of dredging the silt and that is regarded as being essentially maintenance work. The county surveyor informed the council that in his opinion there was work other than maintenance work in the proposal but such other work was not specified.
If it is specified and if in the opinion of theParliamentary Secretary it is not, in the ordinary sense, maintenance work would he consider giving a grant for the work?
We shall consider any amended proposal that comes up.