asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he has made an estimate of the financial benefit to Bantry arising from the establishment of a harbour authority there.

A harbour authority is not a profit making body. Its powers to levy charges are limited to such amounts as may be necessary to defray the costs of carrying out its functions. In the absence of particulars of what a harbour authority would be required to provide in the way of facilities for shipping at Bantry it would be impossible to estimate the amount of money the authority should raise from charges on shipping. I have already indicated that it is not proposed to establish a harbour authority for Bantry.