§ Sir THOMAS ESMONDEasked how much money has been spent by the Department of Agriculture in developing the sea fisheries of county Wexford during the past six years; and how much has been contributed by the Wexford County Council towards that purpose in conjunction with the Department during the same period?
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§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe particulars of expenditure in the last six years in developing sea fisheries in county Wexford, asked for by the hon. Gentleman, are as follows:—
Improvement of Courtown Harbour.— Expenditure by Department, £337. Expenditure by county council, £155.
Kilmore.—Expenditure by Department, £200, being a balance of a contribution of £500 towards cost of constructing a groyne to protect the harbour. The work was not carried out by the Department, and the expenditure of the county council thereon is not known to the Department. Further expenditure by the Department on dredging amounted to £208. Contribution thereto by the county council, nil. Further dredging arranged for to extent of £375, of which the Department will contribute £250 and the county council £125.
Poulduff Pier.—The Department contributed £1,825 and the county council £l,150 towards cost of construction.
Erection of a Capstan at Blackwater and a Winch at Curracloe.—At an expenditure of about £80. Main cost (exact amount not yet decided) borne by Department. No contribution by county council. Part cost borne by local fishermen.
Loans.—£1,744 have been advanced by the Department to fishermen by way of loans to enable them to procure boat, and gear. Intruction to fishermen in the working of paraffin motor engines has also been given at the cost of the Department. The Department have also given assistance in meeting the cost of insuring motor boats belonging to the fishermen, in the county. The fisheries off the county have also participated in the benefits arising from the patrol work of the steam cruiser "Helga," the upkeep of which is entirely borne by the Department.
Oysters.—The Department spent £26 in the provision of gear to Courtown fishermen, with a view to revival of local oyster industry, £49 in assisting marketing experiments, and £52 in providing a storage pond for oysters at Courtown.
§ Sir THOMAS ESMONDEasked how the £50,000 granted by the Development Commissioners for the encouragement of Irish fisheries is to be spent, and within what period; what contributions in connection with the expenditure of the £50,000 are being made by Irish local authorities; and when a further Grant will 1404W be made by the Development Commissioners for the purpose of encouraging Irish fisheries?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Treasury have, up to the present time, approved only of the following Grants from the Development Funds in aid of Irish fisheries:— Helvick Harbour, £19,000; Kilkeel Harbour, £20,000; to assist in the dredging of east coast harbours, £2,500; to develop the shell-fish industry, £1,000. In each of the first two cases a local contribution of £3,000 must be forthcoming. The Down County Council have not yet accepted the proposals in regard to Kilkeel. No definite rate of local contribution has been fixed for cases of assistance in dredging harbours, but the minimum may be taken as one-third the total cost. It is understood that the expenditure is intended to cover a period of five years.