§ MR. HALPIN (Clare, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the year 1902 a free grant of £8,000 was allocated for the improvement of Liscannor harbour; that the Board of Works appointed Messrs. G. A. Watson and Company, Limited, contractors for the execution of the works; that, notwithstanding that the County Council of Clare are liable for a guarantee of 1½ per cent. for four years on the contract price, the Board of Works did not allow the county council to interfere in the plans, specifications, or contract for the works; that the contractors were allowed a period of two and a half years to complete their contract; and that by the contract four new berths were to be provided, the bed of the harbour deepened and rendered safe for vessels, the sea wall to be thoroughly pinned, and proper accommodation and landing-places provided for fishing boats; and whether, seeing that though the works should have been completed more than a year ago they are still only half completed, and consequently a considerable loss to the harbour dues will occur during the coming spring and summer by reason of the state of the harbour, he can state what steps the Board of Works are now taking to complete the matters necessary to make the harbour safe.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The facts are not precisely as stated in the Question. The grant in the case was £8,500. It was approved in 1904. Only two new berths were specified, and new accommodation for fishing was not mentioned. The work is more than half finished, everything being complete except the excavation. The Board of Works, who are, under the Marine Works Act, solely responsible for the design and execution of the works, have furnished me with the following information. It is the case that the date fixed for completion, 30th September, 1906, is more than a year past, and that a substantial part of the work remains unfinished. The reason is that the contractors failed, and their affairs went into the hands of a receiver, who has so far declined to complete the work. The Board are negotiating with a view to taking over the completion of the work themselves. The Board do not think 19 that the dues of the harbour are much affected by its unfinished state. The contractors who have failed were the owners of the quarries which supplied almost all the trade, and the Board are informed that the quarries are closed. There would therefore be a small amount of dues in any case. There is little or no fishing. The contribution by the county council does not begin to be payable till the works are complete.