asked the Minister for Finance when Cladnagerragh pier, Kilcar, County Donegal will be repaired; and the reason for the delay.

As stated in reply to Question No. 485 on 20 October, the Commissioners of Public Works expect to commence work on this scheme late in 1982. Works could not begin earlier owing to prior marine engineering commitments in County Donegal.

In view of the fact that existing facilities at Cladnageeragh pier could be classified as dangerous would the Minister consider giving priority to these works in County Donegal? The area in question is so bad that it should be attended to as a matter of priority because the timber structures are extremely dangerous.

The pier at Cladnagerragh consists of two parts, an inner masonry section maintained by Donegal County Council and an outer open-work section maintained by the Commissioners for Public Works. The outer open-work timber section was built under the provisions of the Marine Act, 1902. There are heavy engineering commitments being processed in County Donegal. For that reason it would be very difficult to give a time and date for the commencement of the work.

What time factor is involved in the completion of the works?

I cannot give a reply at this stage. In March 1980 the work was estimated to cost £70,000. On 26 August 1980 the Department of Fisheries and Forestry sanctioned a 75 per cent State grant of £52,500. Donegal County Council had previously undertaken to contribute 25 per cent of the final cost of the works and to maintain them when completed. Under these circumstances and due to the fact that we have a long list of public works in progress in Donegal, it is not possible to say when this work will start.

4.

asked the Minister for Finance if he has any plans for harbour improvements at Roonagh, County Mayo.

The design of proposed improvement works at Roonagh comprising a new pier, stormwall, approach road, causeway and ancillary works is in hands and is expected to be completed in 1982. Pending completion of the design work it is not possible to say, at this stage, when the proposed improvement works at Roonagh will commence.

In view of the fact that considerable development has taken place on the island and that Mayo County Council have now provided a transit shed at Roonagh, would the Minister ensure that work will be commenced as quickly as possible at Roonagh?

In 1969 the drawings and specifications for the proposed works at Roonagh Point were forwarded to Mayo County Council for approval. Council engineers met the commissioners' engineers on a number of occasions to discuss these and other proposals for improvements at Roonagh Point. The county council did not approve of the plan submitted in 1969 and pressed for a large scale development to provide sheltered anchorage. Such a scheme could not be considered because it was outside the mandate received by the Commissioners for Public Works and it would have proved very expensive to implement. Therefore, all delays are not due to the Department.

Can the Minister indicate when work is likely to start there?

In July 1980 the Department of Finance were advised that an alternative scheme was estimated to cost £350,000 and in January 1981 they sanctioned the proposal. The task of preparing drawings and specifications was put in hand and these are expected to be available early in 1982.

May I take it that, despite the fact of progress having been made up to January 1981, it appears that the Minister cannot give any indication when the works are likely to commence?

Obviously, the design work must be finished before we can proceed to the next stage.

Is there anything in the Minister's file to indicate when these plans will be finalised and the work started?

Preparation of the designs is being carried out with all possible speed but I would remind the Deputy that the design work was put in hand only in January 1981 and that normally this part of a project of this kind takes more than a year to complete.

5.

asked the Minister for Finance if any proposals are before his Department for the necessary dredging of Kilmore Quay, County Wexford, in view of the ever-increasing number of fishing boats using the port.

The Department of Fisheries and Forestry have asked the Commissioners of Public Works for an engineering report and estimate on a number of improvement works, inculding dredging, at Kilmore Quay. The commissioners expect to be in a position to provide the report and estimate of cost early next year.

Can the Minister indicate when this request was received in his Department and also whether by "early next year", he means early in the coming year?

A scheme of improvement for Kilmore Quay was completed by the Commissioners of Public Works in 1981, following the carrying out in 1978 of a boring survey.