HC Deb 15 July 1884 vol 290 cc1107-8
MR. HEALY

asked the Secretary the Treasury, If it be a fact that a pier was erected at Teelin, county Donegal, under plans prepared by the engineer of the Board of Public Works, at a cost of £8,000, of which £6,000 was contributed out of the public funds, £1,000 by the Canadian Committee in 1880, and £1,000 by a local proprietor; that since it was built no cart could be brought on the pier in consequence of the defective state in which the road of approach was left when making the design for the pier; that, in consequence, the pier is useless for any vessel to discharge a cargo at; if it be a fact that the Board of Works let the work of building the pier to a contractor for £8,000, and that when it was in the course of construction the Board assented to the pier being curtailed for about twenty feet shorter than that designed and contracted for; whether the contractor was paid for the short pier the full sum for which he contracted to build a twenty feet longer pier; and, if so, under what circumstances; and, if he will direct the Board of Works to complete the road of approach to the pier, so that it may be made available for vessels to land their cargoes at, and not leave the place a public record of more useless expenditure of public money?

MR. COURTNEY

This Question relates to two separate matters connected with Teelin Pier—first, as to its cost, £8,000 was allocated to it by the Committee of 1880, and a plan was prepared accordingly; but when this came to be carried out it was found that the nature of the ground required additional works 22 feet below water, for which the contractor would be entitled to extra payment. All other means of meeting the increased cost having failed, it was necessary to curtail the original design for this purpose, and the pier was reduced from 360 feet to 341 feet. As regards the approaches, the Board of Works have no authority over the roads; if they are insufficient, the Grand Jury, in whom the pier is now vested, should move in the matter.

MR. HEALY

said, the hon. Gentleman had not answered his Question. Was the contractor paid the full sum for constructing a pier 20 feet shorter than was originally proposed?

MR. COURTNEY

said, it was impossible to carry the pier to its full length, except at great additional expense.