267 Mr. Mulvihill asked the Minister for the Marine the immediate proposals, if any, he has to allocate funding for the dredging at Ballycotton Pier, County Cork in order to facilitate the lifeboat and fishing boats in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of the urgency of the situation. [6185/97]

I have no plans at present to grant-aid dredging works at Ballycotton harbour.

Funding available under the fisheries operational programme 1994-99 is limited and is currently oversubscribed in terms of existing and proposed investment projects at the five fishery harbour centres and other strategically important harbours around the coast. Priority is being given to development projects with significant benefits for the fishing sector.