§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if the Department of Agriculture offered to contribute towards the cost of erecting a fishery harbour at Long Hole, Bangor,
†See Col. 648.1491 county Down; whether the County Down County Council caused plans to be prepared; whether he can state the cause of the delay in proceeding with the work; and whether his attention has been called to the fact that under present arrangements the boats can only enter or leave this harbour for about two hours before and after high water, thus curtailing the time for fishing to about three hours in the day.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Department of Agriculture offered to contribute one-fourth of the cost of the improvements at this harbour which were planned by the county surveyor and were estimated to cost £10,000. The county council, however, have no legal power to expend their funds on the harbour, which, being private property, is not vested in them. Access to the harbour by fishing boats is not possible before half tide.