asked the Minister for Finance to state on what terms he is prepared to lease to the Sligo Corporation for the purposes of a housing scheme the grounds of the old Military Barracks, situate in Barrack Street, Sligo.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SLIGO MILITARY BARRACKS.
The Commissioners of Public Works are prepared, subject to the provisions of the State Lands Act, 1924, to grant Sligo Corporation a lease of the old Military Barracks at Sligo for a period of 99 years, which is the maximum period for which a lease can be granted under the Constitution. The Commissioners would be prepared to suggest a rent for this lease, which would have the effect of enabling the Corporation to provide houses without imposing any burden on the rates. The Corporation have been so informed.
Am I to take it that the Corporation will get the barracks free?
No.
When the British military vacated the barracks the Corporation made application for them to the Department, but were refused. Afterwards, when they were vacated by the Irregulars, they were burned. The Corporation again asked the Department to get rid of them. We have been asked to say what rents we will charge for the houses, but we cannot fix the rents until we know the terms of the lease. We hope that the Department will give us the barracks for nothing.