SIR THOMAS ESMOKDE (Wexford, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Department of Agriculture has advised the Government not to proceed with the work of extending Arklow pier.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) As I informed the hon. Baronet on 2Gth July last, † the Government have promised a free grant of £14,000 towards works at Arklow harbour, and £7,000 of this amount is provided in the Ireland Development Grant Estimate of the present year. My hon. friend is doubtless aware that by arrangement with the Arklow Harbour Commissioners the entrance to the harbour has, for a considerable time past, been dredged by the Department of Agriculture. The Department's engineer has recently furnished a report on the subject, which indicates that the dredging operations have so far been quite successful, with the result that the largest vessels frequenting Arklow now have free access to the harbour It is understood that the Harbour Commissioners and the traders of Arklow agree that such is the case. The result tends to show that dredging rather than an extension of the pier is mainly what was needed at Arklow, and as the question of the particular steps to be laken for improving the harbour is one which primarily concerns the Harbour Commissioners, the engineer's report has been sent to them
† See (4) Debates,clxi., 1421.94 for their consideration. I may mention that the engineer's report, besides dealing with the question of dredging, makes suggestions for improvements of the harbour other than pier-extension. The Government have also expressed their willingness to assist the Harbour Commissioners in their consideration of the matter by having a further inspection made by the Board of Works if the Commissioners should so desire. No reply has been yet received from the Commissioners.