asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that, arising out of some doubts which had been expressed by members of the Dublin Corporation as to whether the St. Anne's estate could not be better used than for the purpose for which it was acquired, the former Government had decided last year to move to acquire the estate from the corporation with a view to adapting the more suitable portion of it as a national memorial park to commemorate those who had lost their lives in the fight for independence and with the secondary purpose of providing a suitable site for a national sports stadium; and whether he proposes to take the matter up with the Dublin Corporation with a view to giving effect to his predecessor's plans in relation to these two matters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - St. Anne's Estate.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that, arising out of the proposed acquisition of the St. Anne's estate from the Dublin Corporation, the Government in 1947 had decided to set up an inter-departmental committee under the chairmanship of the then Minister for Lands, to consider what, if any, portion of the estate in question would be suitable as a site for a national sporting stadium; whether he proposes to proceed to set up such an inter-departmental committee and, if so, will he announce the personnel of the committee and its terms of reference to Dáil Éireann.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I shall take this and the next question together.
I am aware of the proposal to set up an inter-departmental committee to consider the use of portion of St. Anne's estate as a site for a national stadium and of the project referred to in the second question. The latter would involve the acquisition of only a portion of the estate.
The Dublin Corporation have had proposals before them for the allocation of portions of the estate for several other purposes, including housing. I propose, therefore, before having a detailed examination made of any particular proposals, to invite the corporation, as the responsible planning authority, to prepare a sketch development plan for the whole estate, bearing in mind both the projects mentioned by the Deputy and also the other proposals.
Will the Minister give an undertaking to the House that the housing plans of the corporation will not be replaced by a national stadium?
Mr. Murphy
I may assure the Deputy that the housing proposals of the corporation, together with the other matters that are the subject of this question by Deputy MacEntee, will get the fullest possible consideration.
In order that there may be no misunderstanding, is it not a fact that, on the motion of the late Mr. James Larkin, the corporation had already approved in principle of utilising St. Anne's estate as a national memorial park?
Mr. Murphy
I am not aware of that, and the Deputy will, I think, be quite willing to acquit me of any knowledge of discussions of that kind. I can only say that, having regard to the corporation's very important interest in this matter, there should be full consultation with the members of the corporation before a final decision is reached.
I quite agree, but I merely want to ask the Minister to bear in mind that there are portions of the estate which have been already laid out as ornamental pleasure grounds, and they can be adapted to the purpose the late Mr. James Larkin had in mind.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that the memorial that the late Mr. James Larkin had in mind consisted of a very large number of houses for those living in condemned houses and tenements in the City of Dublin? On portions of the estate there were houses to be built also for newly-weds. I think that he had no idea and that he never moved that there should be a stadium. He always held that the stadium should be in the Phoenix Park.
The members of the corporation will bear out what I have said.
Mr. Murphy
There are proposals for the utilisation of portions of the estate for the construction of a national memorial park; there are proposals for the erection of a national stadium; there are proposals for the construction of houses, for the erection of a maternity convalescent home, and for the erection of a secondary school. All these projects will get due consideration at the earliest possible moment.