§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware of the urgent need of a harbour in Rathlin Island; whether representatives of the Department visited the island in September last, and, in consequence, the Board's engineer was directed to prepare plans; whether the Antrim County Council has passed a resolution agreeing to contribute their full share of the cost of the harbour; whether the reason given for the delay by the Department is that funds are wanting; whether the Department two weeks ago promised financial aid for the Portrush Harbour; and, if so, why the prior claim of Bathlin Island is not recognised?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department have given very careful attention to the proposals which have been made for providing a safe harbour on Rathlin Island. The place has been inspected by the Department's engineer, and I visited it myself last September. The Department's engineer reports that a harbour affording safe shelter could not be constructed for less than £7,000. In the present state of their funds the Department 861W are quite unable to offer the county council such a contribution as would enable them to face this large expenditure. The new Grand Jury Amendment Act would not in any case permit of the county council, in conjunction with the Department, constructing a new marine work costing £7,000. The fisherman's pier at Portrush is a comparatively small undertaking, the cost of which can be met out of the Department's funds.