I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time.
Local Government Provisional Order Confirmation Bill, 1957 (from the Seanad) — Second and Subsequent Stages.
The purpose of this Bill is to confirm the Provisional Order set out in the Schedule, i.e., the Wicklow County (Extension of Boundary) Provisional Order, 1957, which was made by my predecessor on 13th February last and which proposes the inclusion in County Wicklow of 78 acres of land at present in County Dublin.
The Bray Urban District Council intend to make an application to the Wicklow County Council to include this area in Bray Urban District. The estimated population of the transferred area is about 600 and the valuation about £1,850. There are at present 130 houses belonging to the Bray Urban District Council and 12 private holdings in the area.
Under the existing law, i.e., Section 10 of the Local Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1936, an urban district council which is not a borough may at any time apply to the council of the county in which it is situate for an Order under the section altering the boundary of the urban district in the manner specified in the application.
To enable the urban council to initiate their application to the Wicklow County Council, it is necessary first to bring the land in question into Wicklow County. The step of transferring the land from the Wicklow County Health District to the Bray Urban District Council under Section 10 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1936, will be a separate matter and will involve the usual procedure of discussion between the county council and the urban district council, advertisement, right of aggrieved parties to make their objections to me, and so on.
The whole question of the present Provisional Order was fully discussed at a public inquiry. Dublin County Council was represented at that inquiry and raised no objection other than matters relating to the ownership of water pipes and consequential financial adjustments. The Provisional Order does not affect local authority property rights in the area and financial adjustments are outside the scope of the Order. Those adjustments will be made subsequently under the provisions of the Local Government (Application of Enactments) Order, 1988, either by agreement or by arbitration.
The Provisional Order contains the usual provisions in relation to the preparation of maps, the continuance in effect in the added area of resolutions, orders and notices of the Dublin County Council which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Provisional Order, arrangements regarding jurors, areas of jurisdiction of coroners, valuation lists, registration of electors and saving from disqualification of members of the Dublin County Council who, by reason of the transfer of the area, may cease to be local government electors for that county.
As the Minister has pointed out, this is a Bill to confirm an Order made by me as Minister on 13th February last. As the Minister has further pointed out, this matter was fully investigated at a public inquiry. We on this side of the House welcome the Bill to confirm that Order.
Question put and agreed to.
Agreed to take remaining stages to-day.
Bill passed through Committee; reported without amendment; received for final consideration; and passed.