asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has yet come to a decision on the proposal made by a combined deputation of the Waterford County Council, Dungarvan Urban District Council and the landowners of the Brickey River district to reclaim the upper portion of the Western Bay, Dungarvan; and, if so, the nature of the decision, and if he will make available to the local authorities concerned the report of the Dutch engineering experts who examined the scheme some months ago so that these authorities may come to some decision as to the prospects of having this land reclaimed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reclamation of Dungarvan Bay.
Mr. Walsh
The proposal referred to in the Deputy's question would involve detailed examination and technical surveys which would be very costly and would have to be entrusted to an engineering staff specially recruited and trained in the highly specialised type of work necessary. Having regard to the necessity for first dealing with the large volume of land reclamation work of a more urgent character I do not propose at this stage to arrange to set up the organisation necessary to deal with the reclamation of estuarine marshland. I regret that at this stage I cannot see my way to make a copy of the report furnished by the Dutch engineers available to the local authorities.