§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state how many places there are in Ireland for the building of fishing smacks and for the manufacture of fishing nets; whether he can state how many fishing smacks and nets used by Irish fishermen are of Irish manufacture; whether application has 859 been made by representative men in Dingle for the establishment of a net-making industry there; and whether, considering the number of persons employed in the industry in the district, and the amount of money which is sent abroad, steps will be taken by the Department of Agriculture to help in establishing the industry there.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Department of Agriculture understand that fishing smacks have been or can be built at about a dozen places in Ireland, and that net manufactories on a large scale exist in at least three places. Net-making by hand is also carried on at fishing villages. The Department have no information as to the number of Irish-made fishing smacks and nets used by Irish fishermen. The question of starting a net-making industry at Dingle has been brought before the Department, and a promise has been made that if such a project should take practical shape the Department would give all possible assistance.