John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply but it does not signal any great hope for Courttown Harbour. I ask the Minister of State to consider visiting the harbour himself to see the current situation there. Courttown Harbour is not an issue just because of the recent storms. Problems have been ongoing at the harbour for the last two or three years because of silting. While I accept that this is chiefly a matter for Wexford County Council, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine allocates some funding for small harbours and piers and I believe it is important that some funding be provided through that scheme. I ask the Minister of State to visit Courttown Harbour and to pass on a request to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Hayes, to visit Marshmeadows in New Ross, where 500 people are currently employed. It is completely under water, causing grave concern in the area. A number of companies are located there, employing 500 people between them. Marshmeadows is very important to the economy of New Ross.

I ask that when the Minister of State is visiting Courtown Harbour he would bring some money with him for Wexford County Council to enable it to solve the problem there. As I said, the yacht club is prepared to put up half the money so I ask for a quid pro quo on that.

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