asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of dredgers the Office of Public Works has at its disposal whether they are in continuous commission excavating and cleaning harbours; and, if not, whether, in view of the necessity for the improvement of and the combating of siltage in many of the harbours utilised by our fishermen, he will make these dredgers freely available to the Fisheries Branch of the Department of Agriculture for improving these harbours.

The Commissioners of Public Works have at their disposal three sea-going dredgers, a bucket dredger, a suction dredger and a grab. When not required for works at the three State harbours, Dún Laoghaire, Howth and Dunmore East, the vessels are available on hire terms for work at other harbours. In recent years there has been a considerable demand on their services for work at commercial as well as at fishery harbours. Their suitability for work at any particular harbour depends on the nature of the material to be dredged and on the flotation available.

Responsibility for the maintenance and improvement of fishery harbours rests with the several harbour authorities concerned and it is not proposed to alter the existing arrangements whereby any State assistance afforded for these purposes is given by way of grant.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say where these dredgers have been operating during the last six weeks?

That is a separate question.

Are the dredgers not idle at the moment and have they not been idle for some time?

They may have been idle for overhaul to fit them out for work in the future.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what exactly has been the position in the last six weeks or two months?

That is a separate question.

It is not.

As I told the Deputy, the dredgers are undergoing overhaul and repair. They are, of course, three fairly old dredgers and I understand at least two of them will have to be replaced some time in the near future in order to do the very heavy work that will have to be undertaken as a result of the programme outlined by the Government in relation to harbours.

I understood the Parliamentary Secretary to say that maybe they were under repair. Does the Parliamentary Secretary say definitely now that they were under repair?

I have answered the question that was put down. If the Deputy addresses that question to me I will answer it.