Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

On Sunday afternoon there were severe storms on the west coast with Seafield pier in Quilty hit particularly hard. Six boats were swamped by high waves coming over the pier wall. Some boats were put out of commission and serious damage was done. Will the Minister of State indicate how it might be possible to offer financial assistance in order that these craft can be put back in operation?

One of the boats in question was a very important sea-fishing vessel and the owner will need time to repair it. He will lose the opportunity to fish until Christmas, causing severe hardship for him and his family. Is it possible to get assistance to help him to have the boat repaired and pay compensation for loss of livelihood while the boat is out of commission? A number of other pleasure craft also sank in the severe storms.

In recent years the former Department of the Marine and Natural Resources provided funds for Clare County Council to build a protective wall on the eastern side of the pier. That wall, according to the fishermen, caused waves to hit very hard and come back over the pier, washing down to where boats are tied up. This never happened before the wall was built. Will the Minister of State send an engineer from the Department to examine the wall in question to see if remedial work will be necessary? Will he provide funding for this remedial work in order a similar situation can be avoided?