§ MR. J. MAINS (Donegal, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the harbour inside the pier at Greencastle, County Donegal, which was built at considerable expense out of public money, has been for many years silted up with the sand to a depth of seven feet at the pier head, so that it is now impossible for small fishing boats to go alongside the pier except at high water and in good tides; is he aware that this is the only safe pier between 1593 Portrush and Ramelton for fishermen; and whether, in view of the fact that the Board of Works' Engineer recently inspected the harbour in consequence of representations from the locality, and reported the harbour as useless, and recommended that it should be restored to its original state, the Board of Works will give the necessary order to have it dredged so that it can be used by the fishermen in this most important fishery district?
MR. JOHN MORLEYI am informed that the bed of Greencastle Harbour has silted up during late years to the extent of three feet in depth near the pier head. There are several very fair small harbours between Portrush and Ramelton, but I have no doubt that the deepening of the harbour at Greencastle would be of much benefit to the fishermen. The Government have addressed a communication to the Secretary to the Grand Jury informing them of the work required to be done and the estimated cost. Should the Grand Jury not move in the matter at the coming Assizes it is the intention of Government to recommend the Treasury to authorise the Board of Works to proceed with the work.