Vol. 192 No. 3
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the present position relative to the Electricity Supply Board's recent proposal to demolish a number of Dublin's Georgian houses for the purpose of re-building offices; and, whether it is not possible for the Board to find an alternative building site.
26.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power what the present position is with regard to the demolition or preservation of the eighteen Georgian houses used as offices by the Electricity Supply Board; whether the Board has acceded to his request that it should consult with Sir John Somerson as to the possibility of the preservation of this Georgian facade; and whether such consultation has in fact taken place.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
I have been informed by the Electricity Supply Board that the future of the Board's houses in Fitzwilliam Street and the provision of offices is still under consideration and that the advice of Sir John Somerson has been sought. In the circumstances, it is not possible to make any statement at present.
Will the Minister give us and the people of Dublin, who, after all, have an interest in this matter, quite apart from the Board or the officials of the E.S.B., an assurance that nothing will happen to this splendid street without his prior sanction and without his taking into account the wishes of the citizens?
I have already informed the House that the matter is being examined very closely. The E.S.B. are well aware that other public interests are involved besides their own.
