asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether Howth, County Dublin, has been relegated to minor fishery harbour status.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Howth Harbour Status.
52.
The answer to the Deputy's question is "No".
Since the answer is "No", can the Parliamentary Secretary enlighten the House as to how the reply to a Parliamentary question last week or the week before indicated in the list of expenditure under minor marine works that a sum of £64,000 had been spent out of that fund on the Howth harbour works?
The figure I have here of expenditure on harbour works in Howth up to 31st March last is £465,477. In addition to that, £22,199 had been expended on preliminary technical investigations in connection with the surveys that were being carried out in relation to further works at Howth.
Perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary has not understood my question. The reason I have asked this question is that according to a reply given here, probably by the Minister for Finance, there was expenditure under the Minor Marine Works Vote of £60,000—I speak from recollection —in respect of Howth harbour works. If these are major harbour works, as I understand them to be, how is it that minor marine works money to the extent of one-third of the total spent last year should have been spent in Howth to the detriment and to the disadvantage of the fishermen on other parts of the coast who are depending solely on a small amount of money.
I have given the sum of money which has been spent up to 31st March, 1971.
I am putting it to the Parliamentary Secretary in whatever way I can get through to him—and I am sure his sympathies lie in the same direction as my own—that it is totally unfair, if the record of this House is right, that £64,000 of minor marine works money should have been spent on Howth, a major harbour, while so many small harbours are crying out for help and works promised to be done had not been done or even started.
I think Deputy Blaney won that round.
I just wanted to get the record straight.
I am not aware that the money allocated for minor harbour schemes was spent at Howth. I have no indication of that.