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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 Feb 1954

Vol. 144 No. 7

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway Port Improvements.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists in Galway due to his decision not to approve the plans for the deepening of the commercial dock to a depth of 12 feet below mean low water spring tides which would be necessary to permit the accommodation of ships up to 7,000 tons; if he is further aware that Dun Aengus dock has the necessary depth to accommodate the larger vessels and that the harbour board claims that in order to develop Galway into a first-class port it is essential that the two docks should have a uniform depth; and, if so, if he will grant the necessary facilities to ensure that the floor of the commercial dock is lowered as required so that the port will be able to accommodate larger vessels including those of Irish Shipping, Limited.

The scheme for the development of Galway harbour for which State grants on a generous scale are to be made, will provide all the facilities which may be required for shipping likely to use the harbour in the foreseeable future. In the circumstances I would not feel justified in recommending to the Government that the cost of any additional work should be met by the taxpayers.

Does the Minister agree that ships of up to 4,000 tons only can go into Galway and is that not putting Galway in a worse position than Dublin, Cork, Limerick or Waterford?

I see no prospect that ships larger than 4,000 tons will use Galway in the foreseeable future.

You are not serious?

Quite serious.

Is it not correct that these larger ships would come there but they cannot go there unless it is deepened?

That is right.

Let me make it quite clear that the State comes to the help of harbour authorities to give reasonable facilities for shipping likely to use those harbours and that I see no reason why we should ask the taxpayer to provide Galway with facilities that are not likely to be used.

Is that the interest you have in the West?

Galway harbour has received a larger grant relative to any other harbour in the West of Ireland, and it has received a higher proportion of the total cost of this work than any other harbour in the West of Ireland except Fenit.

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