asked the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Tourism the amount of money being provided in this year's Estimates for the reconstruction and extension of Darby's Point, County Mayo, and also for Blacksod pier, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Piers.
12.
The limited funds available for fishery harbour works in the current year have to be applied to the most urgent projects and those on which work has already commenced. In these circumstances it has not been possible to include the reconstruction or extension of Darby's Point or Blacksod pier in this year's programme other than on the provision of navigational lights at Blacksod pier towards which my Department offered Mayo County Council a grant of 75 per cent of the cost.
Could the Minister accept that in both of these areas the fishing fleets are expanding and that there is grave concern during the peak fishing periods? Will he try to ensure that works will commence as quickly as possible in both of these areas?
I will certainly look at the position to see what can be done in the near future but I want to underline the fact that the limited funds available for this year have already been allocated.
Can the Minister indicate what stage has been reached in regard to the proposals for the extension of these harbours? Has a survey been carried out and has an estimate of the costs been prepared for the improvement of both harbours?
In January 1984 the West Mayo Fishermen's Co-Operative submitted a modified development scheme for Darby's Point consisting of an extension at right angles to the head of the pier. The Department's engineers have examined the matter and consider that the site and model investigation should be carried out to enable final and practical designs for developments to be drawn up. The Office of Public works have been requested to outline the full scope of the site investigation. It is understood that any costs arising from site investigations this year would be small. Consequently, should any such costs arise they can be carried in the 1986 allocation for harbour development. With regard to Blacksod pier, discussions took place in 1980 between the Department of Fisheries and Forestry, Roinn na Gaeltachta, the OPW and the Fishermen. Roinn na Gaeltachta requested OPW to prepare an engineering report and an estimate of the costs for the following development works at Blacksod pier: firstly, the extension of the pier to give 4ft depth at mean low water; secondly, the provision of leading lights and pier lighting; thirdly, the extension of the pier to give 6ft. depth at mean low water and the provision of a breakwater parallel to the existing pier. In January 1984 Roinn na Gaeltachta forwarded to this Department an engineering report and an estimate in respect of the works mentioned as follows; firstly, to extend the pier by 55 metres to provide four feet at mean low water — £432,000; a working light and an navigation light on the existing pier would cost £3,000; a working light and an navigation light to the extension would cost £2,000; the extension of the pier by 80 metres to provide a 6ft depth, £651,000; breakwater to suit 55-metre extension, £259,000; breakwater to suit an 80-metre extension, £348,000. The minimum cost would have been £693,000 for these. Having examined the report and the cost estimate, it is considered that the expenditure involved could not be justified in view of the landings at Blacksod which were valued at approximately £15,000 in 1983. There is another proposal for an anchorage at Cartron, approximately two miles north of Blacksod, by building a breakwater. A meeting took place in September 1985 with the local fishermen, Roinn na Gaeltachta and the Department to discuss pier improvements also at Blacksod when the fishermen were informed that the original proposed improvements at Blacksod could not be justified, and their views were sought as to the possibility of some alternative improvements such as I have already mentioned.
The modified scheme has been costed and a report on it by the OPW is at present being considered. That report is being examined and assessed in this Department with a view to seeking the sanction of the Department of Finance if its cost is deemed justified on economic grounds. To this end more detailed catch figures have been compiled and these are on record credited to the Blacksod pier and have been challenged by the fishermen. Meanwhile this Department in the interests of safety have offered Mayo a grant of 75 per cent of the cost of providing urgently required working navigational lights which are part of the modified scheme.
Do I take if from the Minister's reply that there appears to be no possibility of having any money spent on either pier?
I have given the Deputy the full information I have. At present there seems to be an amount of money to provide navigational lights only, particularly since the value of the catch, as I have told the Deputy, was the very low sum of £15,000 in 1983. Should the figure have improved substantially I imagine we can reinvestigate the situation.