MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury when the last grant for the erection of fishery piers and harbours was made under the provisions of the Act 29 and 30 Vic, c. 45, and the Acts therein recited; and whether, since the passing of the Act 46 and 47 Vic, c. 26, in 1883, which granted £250,000 out of the Irish Church Funds for such works, the operations under the 29 and 30 Vic, c. 45, and the other Fishery Piers and Harbours Acts in Ireland have been suspended by the Treasury; and, if so, whether he will say under what Act or why the Treasury so suspended the operation of Acts which were passed by the Legislature for the encouragement of the sea fisheries in Ireland by promoting and aiding with grants of public money the construction of piers, harbours, and other works?
§ MR. HANBURYThe last provision made in the annual Estimates for grants for the erection of fishery piers was £2,560, in the year 1884–5. The last sum actually expended out of the Votes was £10 for Carnsore Pier, in 1886–7. Since the passing of the Act of 1883, which made a quarter of a million available for such purposes, the grants under the older Fisheries Acts have practically ceased. No Act was required to allow of this course, as the older Acts merely gave power to expend such sums as Parliament might vote. It is clear that the large expenditure of £250,000 met the requirements for which the small grants out of the Votes were intended to provide. In recent years the policy which has been acted upon has been to add to the value of existing piers by the extension of railway communication rather than spend money on piers without such means of communication.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Did not the right honourable Gentleman state on a previous occasion that there was no money whatever available? Now he says there is £2,0,000.
§ MR. HANBURYI think not.
§ MR. HANBURYI will supply it to the honourable Member.