Committee Reports::Report - Accommodation at Kingstown Pier::27 June, 1924::Report

This Committee was appointed by resolution of the Seanad on the 7th March, 1924, in the following terms:—

“That Senators Burgess, Sir Thomas Esmonde, Bagwell and the Earl of Mayo be requested to act as a Committee, with the co-operation of the Board of Works, for the purpose of improving the accommodation at Dún Laoghaire Pier, for passengers crossing from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead and vice versa.”

1. The Committee met on the 19th March, 1924, the following members being present:—Senators the Earl of Mayo, Sir Thomas Esmonde and John Bagwell. The Commissioners of Public Works— Sir Philip Hanson (Chairman) and Mr. T. P. Lefanu—attended by invitation, together with their Assistant Engineer, Mr. C. H. Olley. On the motion of Sir Thomas Esmonde, Lord Mayo was moved to the Chair.

2. A further meeting was held on the 21st March, 1924, at which Senators the Earl of Mayo, Sir Thomas Esmonde and John Bagwell were present. Sir Philip Hanson and Mr. C. H. Olley attended the meeting. Mr. G. McDonald, (Traffic Manager, Dublin and South Eastern Railway), Mr. C. E. Moore (Chief Engineer, Dublin and South Eastern Railway) and H. W. Ede (Irish Traffic Manager, London Midland and Scottish Railway) were also present by invitation of the Committee.

3. The question of lengthening the pier was considered but rejected on the ground that the expense involved would be excessive. The question of widening the pier was also considered but the Committee were of opinion that any plan involving a large outlay of money should not be recommended before the possibility of effecting improvements without great expenditure had been exhausted.

4. The lengthening of the existing shed on the pier would not be practicable as, if any considerable addition were made to it, it would interfere with the working of the Mail Boats.

(1) All labelled luggage for Ireland from Euston, which arrived there in time, to be examined there by Free State Customs Officers and marked “examined”, segregated from the rest of the train and steamer and taken straight to the trains through the Customs Barrier at Kingstown.

(2) All hand baggage for the Boat to be examined by Free State Customs Officers at Holyhead.

(3) All luggage for Ireland via Holyhead to be labelled with distinctively coloured labels, according to the trains in which it is to go forward from Kingstown Pier.

(a) Kingstown Pier.

(b) Westland Row.

(d) G. N. R. (I). train.

(e) M. G. W. R. train.

(4) All passengers for (c) (d) and (e) to leave the boat separately from those for (a) and (b) and to be given first turn at the Customs Barrier at Kingstown, this to be regulated by the issue on the boat of landing tickets of distinctive colours.

(5) To abolish the western line of railway on Kingstown Pier and widen the pier platform on that side by about 13 feet and provide more commodious customs counters under better shelter.

6. The Committee decided to recommend the adoption of numbers 1 to 4 of the above suggestions and asked Mr. Ede to consult the Manager of the London Midland and Scottish Railway and to give the Committee his views.

Mr. Ede gave the views of the London Midland and Scottish Railway on the Committee’s proposals in a letter dated the 20th May, 1924, appended to this report.

7. The proposal contained in number 5 of the above suggestions was considered but it was decided that owing to the difficulties and expense involved in the proposal, it would be advisable to urge the adoption of suggestions 1 to 4 before going into it further.

SEANAD EIREANN.

TUARASGABHÁIL ON gCOISTE UM CHOIR AR PHIARA DHUN LAOGHAIRE.

(Report of the Committee on Accommodation at Kingstown Pier).