asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has yet received a report of the survey carried out by Louth County Council on the condition of Clogher Head Pier, County Louth; and if, in view of the extreme urgency of the matter, he will immediately allocate funds for its development.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clogher Head Pier.
12.
I am awaiting detailed proposals from Louth County Council in this matter. Until these are received and examined in my Department, I am unable to say what developments would be justified at this harbour in the fishery interest and what funds should be allocated.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say when he was last in communication with the Louth County Council and if he has urged them to have the report sent in immediately?
A meeting attended by the Louth County engineer, the consulting engineer and engineers of the Fisheries Division and the Office of Public Works took place on the 17th October, 1975. Various points made by the engineers of the Office of Public Works and the Fisheries Division were noted by the Louth county engineer who also indicated his intention to undertake further necessary investigation of the sea bed where the repairs are proposed. When this is done, the council will prepare detailed plans setting out firm proposals and realistic costings for consideration by the Department and the Office of Public Works. As the Deputy is aware, this pier is owned by Louth County Council who are fully responsible for its general control, repair and maintenance. As indicated in a previous reply, we are awaiting this information.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the very critical condition of this pier at the present time and of the very considerable number of families who are dependent on fishing? Would he not agree that it is long after time that work on this pier commenced? Surely he would agree that if he feels the report is not coming in quickly enough from the Louth County Council, his Department should get in touch with the county council and see that it is expedited?
This is a very long question.
The Parliamentary Secretary stated that quite a considerable amount of discussion has taken place. I can inform the Parliamentary Secretary that unless something is done there will be no pier to repair.
This is going into the realm of debate.
This pier got a great deal of attention from the Department since we took office and it is true that it is in a poor state of repair and has been so for years and years according to reports furnished to me. As Deputy for County Louth and as a Minister for a number of years Deputy Faulkner was not able to get this work carried out. If he was not able to do it in all those years, he should not expect us to do it overnight. Taking into account the updating of the reports that were not acted upon during his term of office and the cost of making further reports, we have to make assessments again, because you did not do your job when you were in power.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that he has now been three years in office and since he took office nothing has happened except that documents have been sent to the Louth County Council from the Department and back to the Department by the county council? This is nothing but a delaying tactic.
It is not a delaying tactic. We have had to update our reports. I have read out from this statement quite clearly what the position is. We have to get this information from Louth County Council and the Louth county engineer. We cannot be expected to spend £400,000 without proper assessment and engineering reports being finalised and scrutinised.
As I have already pointed out to the Parliamentary Secretary, there will be no pier there if something is not done immediately. Will the Parliamentary Secretary say that if and when he receives this report it will be processed quickly and that funds will be made available to repair the pier?
It will be dealt with when the report is received.
I want to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the payment of teachers in regional technical colleges for the setting and marking of certificate and diploma examination papers.
I will communicate with the Deputy.