§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board, or the Board of Agriculture, to provide pier accommodation for the people living on the island of Tawin, Oranmore, county Galway; is he aware that fishing is the main industry of which these people live; can he state how many deaths from drowning owing to the want of pier accommodation, took place in sight of the people on the island, who were unable to render assistance, within the past few years; and whether, in view of the urgency of providing the inhabitants of the island with a pier to enable them to carry on their principal means of livelihood, he will communicate with the Board or Boards responsible, and do something to assist in a practical way those poor islanders?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo steps are being taken by the Congested Districts Board to construct a pier on the island, which is now connected by a bridge with the mainland, and there are, in their opinion, many other places where landing accommodation is more urgently required. None of the inhabitants live by fishing, and the Board understand that there is not even one fishing boat in the island. There were two drowning accidents off the island during the past ten years. Before the island was included in the Congested Districts, the Department of Agriculture offered to co-operate with the County Council in providing a small pier, but the offer was not accepted.