§ MR. CLANCYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Inspecting Commander of Coastguards, quoted in the latest Report of the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries, that it is very unfortunate, for the sake of the fishermen at Balbriggan, that the harbour is allowed to remain in its present condition, boats at present being unable to get in or out until nearly high water; whether, if the state of Balbriggan Harbour is correctly described in the foregoing words, the Government propose to take any action in the matter; and what sum of money will be required to dredge the harbour?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Board of Works report that Balbriggan Harbour is under the control of the Dublin Port and Docks Board, and that there is no margin of revenue for improvements. Unless powers are acquired by those interested for increasing the dues, there is no prospect of funds being available for dredging, and this has been impressed upon both Port and Docks Board and the local residents. The Board have no recent estimate of the probable cost of dredging.
§ MR. CLANCYAm I to understand that if the people interested are willing to submit to a slight increase of the dues money will be found for dredging the harbour?
MR. J. MORLEYI am not so sure about that. The Board of Works state that a loan of £1,700 was made in respect of this harbour in 1868. Of this amount £1,600 is still unpaid, and the interest is largely in arrear.
§ MR. CLANCYBut seeing that the security for that loan is practically gone, so long as the harbour is rendered useless by the failure to dredge it, would it not be as well to spend more money in order to open the harbour again?
§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not consider this a proper subject to be left for the new Irish Parliament to deal with, seeing it will have such a plethora of money?
§ [The questions were not answered.]