asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will sanction the commencement of work on the proposed improvement to Schull Pier, County Cork.

10.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry when work will commence on the proposed development of Schull Pier, County Cork.

: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.

The fishery harbour improvement programme for the current year is at present in course of being finalised in the light of the provision contained in the Fisheries Estimate for the purpose and the contractual commitments already entered into in respect of works in progress.

: Can I get an assurance from the Minister that work will commence before the end of this year?

: I hope that work will commence before the end of this year.

: Is the Minister giving an assurance to the House that the work will commence?

: I cannot give a cast iron assurance but I hope we will be in a position to begin work before the end of the year.

: Is there money available?

: Is the Minister aware that the pier is in a state of collapse at the moment and if something is not started there shortly the pier is in danger of being washed away?

: A question.

: In view of the fact that when the Chair was Minister for Fisheries he had it on his priority list in 1981——

: Will the Deputy please not bring the Chair into the debate?

: Is the Minister aware that in answer to a Dáil Question tabled by me in June 1982 I was told that work would commence at the end of that year? Can we now take it that there is a firm indication that work will definitely commence before the end of this year?

: I cannot give a cast iron guarantee, as, indeed, neither did the Ceann Comhairle or my predecessor in this respect. All I am saying is that I hope we will be in a position to commence work before the end of 1983.

: Will the Minister inform us if the full job will be completed in the one operation or will it be done in a piecemeal fashion? Once the work is started will it be completed?

: I am not in a position to give details of the modus operandi that will be applied when the work commences.

: Is there money available for it this year? It is correct to say now that Deputy Sheehan has no longer access to the office of his Minister for Fisheries because of the new shabby treatment he is introducing to the House of copying Deputy Walsh's questions?

: That does not arise.

: Obviously the Deputy is not welcome in the Minister's office.

: I will ignore the second part of the Deputy's question.

: It is true then?

: It is not for me to comment on such matters.

: Is it true that Deputy Sheehan has not access to the Minister's office?

: The Deputy has access to me at any time as indeed Deputy Fitzgerald has if he wishes. In relation to the availability of money this particular scheme is on a priority list and because of the nature of marine works the expenditure in any given year is difficult to calculate exactly, as the Deputy will appreciate. I hope we will be in a position to have some money available to commence work before the end of the year.

: The Minister should keep Deputy Sheehan informed in future.

: I thank Deputy Fitzgerald for making representation on behalf of him.