asked the Minister for Communications if he has yet determined the grant allocation to each harbour improvement and construction work for 1986; and, if so, the amount allocated to (a) Drogheda Harbour and (b) Dundalk Harbour.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Harbour Improvement.
9.
Most of the money available to my Department in 1986 for grants to harbours is committed to approved projects. Specific allocations have not, as yet, been made for Drogheda and Dundalk Harbours in 1986 pending completion of technical and financial appraisal of the projects involved.
The Minister saw the condition of Ballast and Welshman's Quays in Drogheda which are in a frightful condition as they are falling into the river. There is a danger that the work which was done on the other two quays will be damaged if the two quays to which I referred collapse. Is the Minister telling me that there is no money allocated for the reconstruction of these two quays in Drogheda?
The days of the drunken sailor approach to these applications has ended. These matters are assessed financially and they must justify themselves. I have said that most of the money in the harbours' vote for 1986 is committed. There is some money left but a number of people are anxious to draw from that fund. Included are applications from Dundalk and Drogheda and both have to pass the test as to commercial viability. Work is in progress at the moment in the case of both.
The least I can say to the Minister is that I am appalled that the Minister, knowing the condition of the two quays in Drogheda, is not allocating any money to them.
I should like the Deputy to recall that I took the trouble, as Deputy Faulkner was good enough to mention, to go to Drogheda and Dundalk separately to see the quays. I asked those concerned to put forward a proposition but the full details in the case of Drogheda were not received by my Department until the latter part of last year. Further details were requested and received towards the end of the year. That is being assessed and when that work is completed—I hope it will not take too much longer—a decision will be made. If the decision is favourable funds will be allocated in 1986.
All I can say to the Minister is that it is no wonder the employees of the harbour commissioners and the dockers in Drogheda are saying, "God be with the days when Deputy Faulkner was Minister for Transport because we got our money then".
We must move on to the Priority Questions because we have gone beyond the time allocated for ordinary questions.
I cannot help wondering how, if Deputy Faulkner was such a good Minister for Transport, the two harbours got into the condition they are in.
The condition of the quays that were repaired is excellent and I am expecting the Minister to do at least as much as I did.