asked the Minister for Local Government whether his Department have a function in the matter of remedying the serious erosion problem at Loughshinny, County Dublin; and if he will take steps to protect the property there which is in danger of destruction by the sea.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Loughshinny (Dublin) Erosion Problem.
14.
It is the responsibility of local authorities under the provisions of the Coast Protection Act, 1963, to initiate schemes dealing with coast erosion. My Department has no direct functions in relation to such schemes.
Is the Minister aware that no money is available to any local authority, certainly not in Cork——
The question is a particular one and not a general one.
(Interruptions.)
May I, with everybody's permission, ask a supplementary concerning my own constituency, to which the question refers?
Have you alerted Deputy Burke?
I should like to ask the Minister if he is aware——
Councillor Burke is dealing with this—Councillor R.P. Burke.
Yes, an admirable and promising young man, like those who have gone before him.
Is this a supplementary question?
I am being provoked and invited to make extraneous comments. I want to ask the Minister if he does not feel that he should take some steps to help in the initiation of this work?
Is the Deputy asking a supplementary?
Yes; that is a supplementary. It arises out of his reply. He knows what I am talking about.
If the county council initiated a scheme of this kind, who will pay the cost of carrying out this work?
Nobody.
The county council may initiate a scheme under the Coast Protection Act, 1963. Under this Act schemes may be carried out by the Commissioners of Public Works and the Minister for Finance may contribute a percentage of the cost——
Will he?
——not exceeding 80 per cent. I am not the Minister for Finance.
(Interruptions.)
If Deputy Dunne wants further information about this particular point, he could discuss it with Councillor R.P. Burke who has a motion on the agenda for the——
The Árd Fheis.
——for the county council meeting dealing with the matter. Somebody at least seems to be taking the initiative.
(Interruptions.)
He is on his bicycle around there and if he is anything like his Daddy, you better look out.
Would the Minister be able to say if, in fact, any work of a substantial nature has been done under the 1963 Act?
These are particular cases.
That is a special question.
A question you do not want to answer.
Is it in accordance with the regulations of the House, Sir, that a Minister should reply to a Deputy and tell him that the information he seeks is being dealt with by a member of a local authority, Dublin County Council, to wit, Councillor R. P. Burke?
The Deputy was worried about initiating work at county council level.
I know very well that the name of the eldest son of his illustrious friend sticks in the Minister's throat.
The youngest.
It grieves me more than it does you.