asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will arrange to have Valentia harbour, County Kerry, established as a major fishery port on the west coast as the development of the pier at Renard Point; together with the Port-magee, Valentia and Cahirciveen piers, would ensure a vast development that would make this harbour one of the finest fishing harbours in Europe.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Harbours.
68.
I do not propose to add to the list of centres at which major fishery harbours may be established under the Fishery Harbour Centres Act, 1968.
The development of landing facilities in the Valentia Harbour area of County Kerry is being proceeded with on the lines recommended by the special survey team which made an appraisal of the fishery ports in south Kerry some years ago.
69.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will give details regarding the piers and small harbours along the coast of south Kerry and west Cork which will be repaired, improved and extended during 1975.
Improvement works sponsored by my Department are in progress at Knightstown. Schemes of improvement works at Caherciveen, Scraggane, Renard Point and for the provision of perches on dangerous rocks in the Kenmare River have been approved. Subject to the capacity of the Office of Public Works, I expect that work at these four places will be undertaken in the current year. A scheme sponsored by Roinn na Gaeltachta is in progress at Reen, Ballinskelligs, and that Department has approved a grant for an improvement scheme at Dún Caoin and is examining proposals for works at Dingle.
In regard to the Beara Peninsula a major development scheme is in progress at Castletownbere which is estimated to cost £1¼ million of which £180,000 is being provided for expenditure in the current year.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that, if there had not been a change of Government, these works would have started last year?
No. The Deputy is quite wrong.
No. The Deputy is quite right.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say if there are any proposals for the extension and improvement of the pier in Garnish near Dursey Sound? There are 18 boats fishing out from this pier. It is very narrow and therefore most dangerous. Has the Parliamentary Secretary any proposals for the improvement and extension of the pier?
The position at Garnish is to be reported on.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary see after it?
Yes. I know Garnish quite well and I would be very sorry to have to hand it over to the Deputy's crowd.
In relation to Garnish Island and the boatmen who operate tourist facilities there, is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied they are giving a fair deal to the tourists?
That is a separate question.
I am sorry. I did not catch the Deputy's question.
There are certain boatmen who operate at Garnish Island and I had a problem with them. Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied they are giving a fair service to tourists?
That is a separate question.
It does not arise under Fisheries.
I agree.
70.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries his Department's plans for the future of Balbriggan harbour, County Dublin.
I have no plans for the improvement of Balbriggan harbour in the fisheries interest.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree he should have plans for the future development of Balbriggan harbour in view of the increased fishing industry in the whole north county area?
The fisheries in Balbriggan are such that a grant is not warranted. For some years the fishermen using the harbour have been making intermittent requests for dredging works to be carried out there. Those requests have extended over 16 years and the most recent request was in August, 1974; the Fisheries Branch inspector said that, in his opinion, works would not be justified in view of the scale of fishing.
The scale of fishing is directly related to the appalling condition because of the silting up of the harbour. If the harbour were cleaned and developed it would be extensively used for fishing.
The inspector advises that silting would recur. The report is unfavourable so far as Balbriggan is concerned.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree to have the matter re-examined?
I certainly will and, if the Deputy has any additional information, I shall be glad to have it.