HC Deb 03 June 1892 vol 5 cc537-8
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (for Mr. CLANCY,) Dublin Co., N.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will now advise the Government to make a grant for the purpose of executing the improvements necessary to render Rush Harbour, County of Dublin, a source of safety to the fishing boats which are in the habit of frequenting it, as well as to those boats owned by fishermen living in Rush; whether he is aware that at present the Rush boats are obliged to take refuge in Howth or Skerries during the months from November to May, over 100 fishermen being thus compelled to walk several miles to and from their boats each time they land during that period; and whether there is now any money left of the Sea Fisheries Fund of 1883 which might be applied to the purposes of Rush Harbour?

*THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. GORST,) Chatham

The right hon. Gentleman has asked me to answer this question. I have made enquiries, but I have not been able to verify the accuracy of the second paragraph. There are no funds available under the Fishery Piers Act of 1883 for the improvement of Rush Harbour; and my information leads me to conclude that, should funds become available, this is not the most pressing case which would demand the attention of Her Majesty's Government.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that my hon. Friend the Member for North Dublin applied to the Chief Secretary and had a long correspondence with him on the subject when he was Secretary to the Treasury; and I think that the facts will be found to be—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!