Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I sincerely thank the Minister for his reply. However, the islanders need to know when the necessary remedial works will start, how long they will take, when the pier will be made safe and when it will reopen for berthing. I acknowledge the Minister may not have the answers to these questions in his brief but I ask him to provide the answers over the coming weeks. The pier was originally constructed during the Famine. We have had years of studies of wave movements, swells and tides by scientists, engineers and departmental officials and the islanders feel it is time to make a decision on what is to be done while acknowledging it is a historical pier, which was built 160 years ago. The islanders at that time invested in the structure to make the harbour safe. The officials need to reflect on that and focus on coming to a decision on how this issue can be progressed on the basis of the studies they have conducted. It is frustrating for the islanders to have to wait for further studies.

See this speech in context