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.