HC Deb 05 March 1903 vol 118 cc1573-4
*MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has considered the claims brought under his notice of Glencolombkill, Kilcar. St. John's Point, Ardara, and Bundoran, for the erection of boat slips and the extension and improvement of piers for the benefit of the fishing industry of the seaboard of South Donegal, and the preservation of the lives of the fishermen; whether, having regard to the fact that the £100,000 which is to be expended under the provisions of the Marine Works (Ireland) Act is not in any part to be expended on such works as the erection of boat slips and storm works, South Donegal, for whose seaboard these works are asked, is to be excluded from the benefits of the Act; and what steps, if any, does the Government contemplate for the construction on that seaboard of boat slips and the improvement of the piers and harbours.

MR. WYNDHAM

The claims of all undertakings of this description, to which the provisions of the Act apply, were considered at the recent Conference. The Congested Districts Board has recently improved the landing-place at Glencolombkill, and is arranging for the construction of an approach road to that work. There are two boat slips at St. John's Point. The Board has offered to contribute £150 for a slip at Ardara, provided the work be undertaken by the local authorities. The requirements of Kilcar appear to be provided for by existing slips in the neighbourhood. With respect to Bundoran the construction of any work of utility there is, I fear, at present impracticable, as its cost would be in excess of any sum which the Government could allocate for the purpose.