HC Deb 09 June 1893 vol 13 cc647-8
MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings at a public meeting of the inhabitants of the town and district of Killybegs, in the County of Donegal, fully reported in The Derry Journal of 22nd May, convened to consider the encroachments of the Donegal (Killybegs Extension) Railway works on the public wharfage hitherto in existence for the accommodation of vessels in Killybegs Harbour; whether he is aware that last spring, when there was great distress in the district and coal was sold at £1 10s. per ton, a vessel was lying in Killybegs Harbour laden with coals which could not discharge her cargo for a week, in consequence of the encroachments referred to, for which there has been no compensation whatever; by what authority were the railway works which prejudicially affect the wharfage carried out without compensation; what steps will be taken to render the railway and the harbour mutually beneficial to the district instead of antagonistic to each other; and what are the intentions of the Government in the way of providing a suitable pier and wharf in lieu of those taken away by the railway works, having regard to the fact that Mr. Manning, late Engineer-in-Chief of the Board of Works, recommended that a new pier should be built to accommodate vessels drawing 15 ft. of water?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) Oldham

My right hon. Friend asks me to answer this question. I have seen a report of the meeting referred to, and I have myself lately visited the place. I am informed that no public rights existed in the Killybegs pier, which was the property of a private individual, and was a small work not extending more than half way to low water of spring tides. The private rights were acquired and paid founder the award of an arbitrator duly appointed. I am not aware of the circumstances described in the second paragraph, but no small pier such as that previously existing could have accommodated coaling steamers of the ordinary class, for which lighters or boats would in any case have been necessary. I should explain that, though the east quay wall of the pier was absorbed in the new station ground, the western quay was set free for the use of the public, and in addition a new boat-slip, much superior to any similar existing work at Killybegs, as extending down to low water of spring tides, was constructed at the cost of public funds in connection with the railway works entirely for public use. A new pier could not have been included in the railway scheme, as there was no provision in the Acts of 1883 and 1889 for such a work, nor are there any funds available for the purpose over which the Treasury or the Board of Works have any control. The question, however, whether any additional accommodation can be provided is now engaging the attention of the Congested Districts Board.