asked the Minister for Defence whether he is now prepared to grant facilities for establishing a racecourse on portion of the lands in the occupation of the Army at Ballincollig, County Cork, and, if so, whether he will state the number of meetings per year which will be permitted and whether permanent stands and buildings may be erected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Racecourse Facilities (County Cork).
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state whether any applications have been received by his Department for a lease of part of the lands, the property of the Minister for Defence, at Ballincollig, County Cork, for a racecourse; further, whether these applications have been considered; and, if so, whether it is proposed to grant a lease to an individual or to a company.
With the permission of An Ceann Comhairle, I propose to deal with Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together. A group of individuals made application for a lease of portion of the State lands at Ballincollig for the purpose of establishing a racecourse. The application is under consideration. In the event of a favourable decision being reached any lease granted will be to a company to be formed for the purpose. The question of the stands and other buildings to be erected will be examined with a view to making necessary facilities available. The number of meetings to be held in any year will be a matter for later consideration.
Will the Minister say whether the company referred to will be a public company or a private company?
I understand that it will be a public company.
Is the Minister aware that the General Staff had serious objections to the establishment of this racecourse on the grounds that it would seriously interfere with the training of the mechanised units of the Defence Forces, and will he indicate whether or not they have now withdrawn these objections?
There are no objections at the moment from the General Staff. There were objections to a previous proposal. Those objections have been met by an alteration in the plan.