§ 4. Mr. FFRENCHasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that it was proposed to spend £900 on Ballyhack Harbour, the Wexford County Council agreeing to pay half this sum and the Department of Agriculture agreeing to pay the other half and to send their engineer to prepare plans and superintend the work; is he aware that the fishermen's boats will be in danger during the coming winter if the breakwater is not built and the other 2042 suggested improvements carried out; and can he say if the plans and specifications have been prepared and tenders advertised for and accepted, or if any progress whatever has been made?
§ Mr. GULLANDIt is fact that preliminary plans were prepared by the Department's engineer for the improvement of the harbour at Ballyhack at an estimated cost of £900, half of which was to be provided by the Wexford County Council. Difficulties have since arisen in connection with the carrying out of the work. The Waterford harbour authority, within whose jurisdiction Ballyhack is situated, have suggested that the fairway to Waterford might be endangered unless the proposed breakwater were constructed in a much more expensive manner than appeared necessary for merely local requirements. It has not been found possible to arrange for the disposal of the dredged material without towing it a long distance to sea. The Department are endeavouring to find a way out of these difficulties.