§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a memorial from the Dingle Harbour Board asking for a grant for the extension of the pier; whether he is aware that the district served is all congested, and the most highly rated in all Ireland, and that fishing is the main industry; whether 1137 he is aware that, owing to the fact that the pier does not extend sufficiently far into the sea, delay is sometimes caused in landing fish, and loss thereby incurred; and whether, under those circumstances, steps will be taken to have the pier reported on by an engineer from the Board of Works or Congested District Board, and such grant as he considers necessary for its extension given.
MR. BRYCEI have received the memorial referred to and the Board of Works have favoured me with a Report upon its proposals. In the opinion of the Boards engineer the proposed extension would not effect the desired end. It is a fact that the district of Dingle is congested, and that the charges upon it in respect of railway and harbour guarantees are very high, and I understand that fishing is its main industry. The Congested Districts Board have from time to time considered schemes for the improvement of Dingle harbour, and it was recently decided that the best way of securing this end would be to dredge a channel to the existing pier. This has recently been arranged for by the Dingle Harbour Board, and the Congested Districts Board have made a considerable contribution towards the cost of the work, which is about to be commenced.