asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry whether he is aware of the total dissatisfaction among the people of Bere Island, County Cork at the failure to sanction the completion of the work at the access point to Oileán na gCaorach; and whether he will give the necessary sanction for the work.

55.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will allocate a 75 per cent grant for the very important fishing pier on Bere Island.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 55 together.

Oileán na gCaorach is the principal place on Bere Island where boats are put to sea. The work which my Department have agreed to grant-aid at this location in the interests of the fishermen is in progress and is expected to be completed in the course of the next few weeks, weather permitting. The grant provided by my Department is 75 per cent of the cost of the work.

Other works which have been suggested by local interests are not in my view required in the fishery interest.

Perhaps this is a somewhat unfair question but would the Minister explain to me why this question was accepted by his Department and not by the Minister for Finance to whom it was addressed, bearing in mind his reply that it is considered that the necessary work was not needed for fishery purposes?

I am afraid I have no information on that item.

That is not a matter for the Minister.

Is the Minister aware that the pier in question is the only access point to an island on which 280 people live? Is the Minister further aware that there are other factors, besides fishing — fishing is important — but that it being the only access point it is necessary to have this job done to provide a facility for the people to get on to and off the island?

I accept that the work is, perhaps, necessary. I do not doubt what the Deputy is saying.

Why then is it not being done?

I think I have already answered the question.

The Minister has not answered the question.

The Minister said it would be completed in the course of the next few weeks.

No, there is a certain amount of work being completed which I, on behalf of the islanders, along with other representations made——

A question, Deputy, please.

——when it was made clear that this work constituted only half the job. When will the job be finished?

I have already said that the work which my Department have agreed to grant-aid at this location in the interests of the fishermen is in progress and is expected to be completed in the course of the next few weeks, weather permitting.

Is the Minister not aware that the work to which he refers constitutes half the job only and is totally unacceptable——

I am calling on Deputy Deasy, or I will proceed to the next question.

I accept that other works have been suggested by local interests but it is the view of the Department that those works are not necessary for fishery purposes.

I merely want to make an observation——

Do not make any observation, Deputy, ask a question, please.

This Question Time is a farce. Why could these questions not have been postponed?

Question No. 49.

Why could they not have been postponed? It is a joke.

It is a waste of time.