HC Deb 17 July 1884 vol 290 cc1394-5
MR. SEXTON

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether, about 1880, a breakwater was built by the Board of Works at Enniscrone, County Sligo, at a cost of over £2,000, three-fourths of the whole amount being supplied out of public funds, and the balance contributed from local and other sources; whether the breakwater was so designed and so constructed that, a few days after it had been transferred to the county authority, a large portion of the slip was torn away by the sea, and the harbour became so obstructed that boats could not get into it, and it proved to be quite useless; whether the Commission appointed under the Sea Fisheries Act of last Session held a public investigation at Enniscrone, and recommended a free grant of £6,000 for the construction of a pier at that place; whether the whole of the expensive structure of 1880, consisting of cut stone brought from a distance, and costing above £2,000, will now be merely used as part of the filling-in of the body of the new pier; whether the local opinion is that the new pier, as designed by the engineer of the Board of Works, is not suitable, and will not give the requisite shelter; whether the members of the Piers and Harbours Commission approve of the design in question, or have suggested any alterations in it; and, whether an independent engineer of eminence will be consulted now, and due care taken that the pier shall be so designed and constructed as not to result in a further useless expenditure of the public funds?

MR. COURTNEY

This work was not injured as described, the fact being that slight damage to the amount of only £60 was done to it by the great storm last winter, 15 months after its transfer. Under the present scheme, the cut-stone formerly used will be available for new work, and the bulk of the breakwater will form part of the new pier; there will, therefore, be no waste of public money. No expression of local opinion on the new plan has reached the Government. The design was made by the Board of Works to meet the requirements of the Fishery Piers Commission; and if these two Bodies are agreed, there seems nothing to justify the expense of taking further opinion.

MR. SEXTON

asked, whether the Piers and Harbours Commissioners disapproved of the work?

MR. COURTNEY

If they had disapproved, they would communicate with us.