§ MR. HUGH LAW (Donegal, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board agreed some years ago to provide leading lights for the guidance of vessels at Dowros Bay, county Donegal, but that, though lamps were actually procured for the purpose some three years ago, they have not yet been erected; whether the Irish Lights Board have raised objections to their erection; and whether, in view of the dangerous nature of the two channels giving access to the harbour, he will urge upon the authorities concerned the urgent 679 necessity of proceeding at once with the erection of the lights.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell) In 1904 the Congested Districts Board decided to erect leading lights for the western channel of Dowros Bay, which is the channel used by the large majority of the boats which come from other ports to the fishing in that locality. The lights were purchased and were about to be put up when the local fishermen objected to the western channel being lighted, as they wished the lights put up for the eastern channel, which is the one most used by them. The latter channel, being narrow and intricate, is not a safe one for strangers, and the Board never proposed to light it. In consequence of the attitude of the local fishermen the Board decided not to proceed with the erection of the lights for the western channel, but to confine their work to putting up a red light on Rosbeg Pier. The Irish Lights Board sanctioned the erection of the proposed lights.