asked the Minister for Local Government the steps he proposes to take to improve landing facilities on the pier at Laurence Cove, Bere Island, County Cork, where postal delivery services are delayed due to the blockage of the pier by a privately owned barge and to the inadequacy of landing and lighting facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Pier.
30.
In so far as the local authority have any functions in relation to landing and lighting facilities at any particular pier on the island, the question of their adequacy is one entirely for them.
Is the Minister aware that this question was put down to the Minister for Finance and apparently was tranferred to the Minister for Local Government? Would the Minister state exactly what proposals the Government have to improve the landing facilities at Laurence Cove, Bere Island, where there is a drop of about 20 feet from the top of the pier to water level at low tide, where it is virtually impossible to get patients going to hospital from the island on to boats, they must go down a ladder about 20 feet in length?
As Deputy O'Leary knows, this is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. I understand that the next meeting of the road advisory committee of the council is scheduled to take place on 27th June and will be held on Bere Island, when the question of piers, slips and so on will be discussed by councillors for the area. Following that, I am sure we shall hear further from them but, as of now, there is nothing I can do because I have no information from the council.