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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Feb 1960

Vol. 179 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Trawlers.

92.

asked the Minister for Lands if it is proposed to sell the three German trawlers owned by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara; and, if so, if he will state (1) the date of their purchase by the Board, (2) the price paid for them, (3) the losses involved in their operation to date, (4) when it is proposed to dispose of them, and by what means, and (5) the reserve price placed on them by the Board.

I have been informed by An Board Iascaigh Mhara that they propose to sell the three offshore fishing vessels purchased in Germany.

(1) The vessels were purchased in July, 1952.

(2) Capital outlay on them up to 31st March, 1959, amounted to £113,068.

(3) The losses involved in their operation to 31st March, 1959 (the latest date to which audited accounts are available), amounted to £77,006 (including £37,164 charged for depreciation and £18,102 interest paid to the Central Fund).

(4) Offers have been invited for the vessels through a firm of shipbrokers and it is proposed to dispose of them when acceptable offers are received.

(5) It would not be in the public interest to disclose reserve prices in advance; it has, however, been announced that any reasonable offers would be considered.

Are these the boats commonly known as "Bartley's Follies"?

I do not know whether they are referred to as "Bartley's Follies" or "Dillon's Follies".

Is the Minister aware that I found them there with the engines falling out of them and gave instructions that they be sold, in 1957? Have those instructions been carried out or was an attempt made to refloat them and does that account for the delay of three years in getting rid of them?

That is on a par with the statement made by Deputy Dillon in the debate at Christmas about the engines he said I bought but which he himself had bought.

I can only express the view that if Deputy Dillon had reengined a couple of those boats, the losses might not have been as great.

I did not re-engine them. I gave instructions to have them sold. How is it that the instructions I gave in 1957 are now, in 1960, still unperformed? Was there any change in the instructions left by me to get rid of these follies?

There was no change so far as I am aware, except that the Deputy, when Minister, having decided to sell them, failed to proceed with the sale or to get purchasers for them.

We did not get time.

What port are these boats in now?

The North Wall.

One is tied up and two are at sea.

Where are they at sea?

Is the Minister aware that these boats have been responsible for a reluctance on the part of young men to enter fishing?

They need not. These boats were quite unique.

That is not so. In fact, some young men were successfully trained on these boats.

Many more would have come forward, were it not for these boats.

Would the Minister give some indication of the commercial possibilities of the fish factory sited at Galway by Deputy O.J. Flanagan during his term of office for political purposes?

That is a separate question.

There was no fish factory——

The Minister for Finance read out that it was to be in Dunmore. It was established in Galway. I can give the Dáil Debates reference. It was in his first Budget.

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