asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the reasons why the plot of ground beside the mental hospital at Portrane was not advertised for sale, so that the local people might have an opportunity of tendering for it; and if he will state the terms on which the piece of ground has been leased to a Mr. Dockery, who does not reside in the neighbourhood.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Portrane Plot.
As I intimated in my reply to the Deputy's question of the 13th instant, there is no statutory obligation on the local authority to advertise the proposed lease of the land. While it would be desirable to do so in such cases, in the absence of any specific statutory regulation, I would have no power to give any direction to that effect. I indicated in my reply of the 13th instant the terms on which the site was leased. The area of the site is about 17 perches.
Is the Minister aware that this is a very valuable site, and that local people would have tendered, not £10 but £30 or £60 for it? Can he say how Mr. Dockery who comes from God knows where was able to obtain it for £10 a year?
That is a separate question.
How did Mr. O'Leary get it?
Mr. O'Leary, a local man, was offered it because a previous proposal of his was turned down. Nobody knows where Mr. Dockery came from or how he got the information.