§ MR. GILHOOLY (Cork, W.)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether it is a fact that a pier, which was constructed by the Commissioners of Irish Public Works at Cape Clear 712 Island 12 years ago, is, for all practical purposes, useless to the inhabitants of that Island; whether the expenses of said pier were partly defrayed by local contributions; whether a Memorial praying that its defects would be remedied was received by the Commissioners of Irish Public Works in 1884; and, whether, considering the importance of Cape Clear as a fishing station, steps will be taken to make the pier of some advantage to the inhabitants of the Island?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)(who replied) said: The information which comes to me does not show that this pier is useless for all practical purposes. The expense of erection was partly defrayed by local contributions. A Memorial was received on October 29, 1883, and was forwarded the next day to the Commissioners appointed under the Sea Fisheries Act, who, however, did not see fit to allocate any sum for the execution of works. The Board of Works have no funds at their disposal at present which could be applied to improvements at Cape Clear.
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)May I ask the hon. Gentleman for what practical purposes is the pier useful? I know none.
§ [No reply.]