§ MR. J. MACVEAGHTo ask the Vice- President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to the repeated complaints that the Churn Rock in Ardglass Harbour, county Down, has caused numerous boat wrecks and loss of life, and that it is an obstruction to navigation, fatal to the development of the harbour, and detrimental to the fishing industry; and whether, having regard to the small cost at which the rock could be removed, steps to that end will be taken without further delay.
(Answered' by Mr. T. W. Russell) No application has been made to the 1148 Department on the subject of the removal of the Churn Rock, which is in Ardglass Harbour. The matter was considered by the Piers and Harbours Commissioners in the year 1884. These Commissioners did not feel justified in allocating to the improvement of this royal harbour any portion of the sea fisheries funds provided by 26 and 27 Vict., c. 26. The interference with the herring fishing from Ardglass is not such as would induce the Department to expend their funds, which are limited in amount, in removing the Churn Rock. It has been estimated that the removal of the rock in question would cost about £2,000.