andMr. Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the recent decision of the Derry Harbour Board to close Carrickarory Pier, Moville, County Donegal, he will take urgent action to acquire this pier so that it may continue to serve the commercial life of the Inishowen Peninsula and North Donegal.

15.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that the Derry Port and Harbour Authority has closed Moville port; and if he will make a statement in the matter.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.

I have received reports that Derry Pier and Harbour Commissioners have decided to close Carrickarory Pier, Moville, County Donegal, to commercial traffic, because of its deteriorating condition. Available information indicates that the pier is not used to any significant extent for commercial traffic or for fishing. I have no power under existing legislation to acquire this pier.

Is the Minister aware that this matter is quite important to the community there whether or not it could be regarded in national terms as of importance? Is the Minister further aware that coal and fertilisers can be landed at £1 a ton cheaper at Carrickarory Pier than if it is discharged further up the river in Derry? Is the Minister also aware that if this pier were in the hands of the State, as it should be, and was properly repaired and maintained, it would be of great use to the fishermen of the area as well as to the commercial life and would relieve the over-burdened Greencastle Harbour facilities, which it has been promised will be extended but it looks as if they will not be extended for many more years?

(Cavan): As the Deputy probably knows, Carrickarory Pier and Moville Harbour are under the control of Derry Port and Harbour Commissioners. My information is that Moville Harbour was recently repaired and the Department of Agriculture gave a contribution of £87,000 and some contribution was also made by Derry Harbour Commissioners. In regard to Carrickarory Pier which is in the harbour but about a mile south of the town, the information I have is that the use being made of it is insignificant. In regard to the Deputy's proposal that this pier and presumably the harbour should be taken over by the State or, perhaps, by Donegal County Council, legislation would be necessary to do this and the records show that this has been considered at various times over the past 50 years. It was considered as recently as 1970 when the then Minister apparently decided to take no action.

In the circumstances of the isolation of the Inishowen Peninsula and while the movement and the landing of goods at that pier may appear small in national terms, in view of the fact that it is much cheaper and that it serves this peninsula in a particular way, would the Minister give a further thought to its importance relative to the area that it serves? What is now to be done about this pier that we do not own, which is proposed to be abandoned by the Derry Harbour Board? In any previous examinations there was no question of its either falling into disrepair or disuse, as is now proposed. It is now not being used officially, due to its condition. Will the Minister urgently examine this situation with a view to promoting the necessary legislation to acquire this pier?

I must ask for brevity; this is a very long speech, instead of a question.

If I have at some stage transgressed, it is only in the last few words that I have said. I have been asking questions since I got to my feet.

Would the Minister find out on the spot just how useless is the £87,000 that was spent at Moville? Time and again I tried to get that money spent on the other side of that headland. The Minister and his Department should not believe that we have a facility in replacement of Carrickarory because we have not. It would not take a trawler in certain weather let alone a ship. Carrickarory is in no way being replaced by the Moville operation.

When replying I would like the Minister to let us know if he has abandoned all hope of any repairs being carried out. Is the pier indefinitely closed or will there be any negotiations regarding taking it over?

(Cavan): Deputy Brennan seems to be under the impression that it is proposed to close down Moville Harbour. That is not so; it was recently repaired and there is no question of closing it down. I take it that Deputy Brennan's question also refers to Carrickarory Pier, and on the basis of that, legislation would be necessary to take this over. This matter has been considered several times and I cannot help thinking that both Deputy Brennan and Deputy Blaney as members of a former Government had every opportunity of considering the matter. I am sure they did consider it but a decision was taken as recently as 1970 by my predecessor to do nothing about it. It is right that they should say that recently an application has been received from Donegal County Council for a grant towards the repair of Carrickarory pier. I am not in a position to say what decision will be given on that because it is still under consideration. It will be considered and a decision will be given.

Could I finally direct the Minister's attention again to one aspect of this matter? At no stage in the past 50 years were we placed in the situation we are now in, that the pier has been closed. At any other stage when this was considered it was still operating. The present arrangement is no substitute.

(Cavan): I can agree with the last——

The Minister has abandoned all hope of anything being done.

(Cavan): It is obvious that Deputy Blaney and to a lesser extent Deputy Brennan are trying to make some political issue out of this. If Deputy Brennan and his Government were interested in this they had 14 years to do it and they did nothing about it.

That is not the answer.

Order. Question No. 16.