asked the Minister for Local Government if in recent years a compulsory purchase order was made by the Naas Urban Council to acquire building sites; and, if so, if he will state (1) the date on which the order was made, (2) the date of the inquiry, (3) the purpose for which the land was sought, (4) the number of housing applicants concerned, (5) the principal reasons advanced against the order, (6) the reason why the order was not confirmed, and (7) if the order was made under section 8 of the Housing (Ireland) Act, 1919 or sections 31 and 35 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1952.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Naas Building Sites.
45.
A Compulsory Purchase Order for the compulsory acquisition of 5½ acres of land was made by the Council on 2nd June, 1961. The public local inquiry was opened on 12th December, 1961, and was reopened on 25th September, 1962. The order was made for the purposes of the Housing of the Working Classes Acts. Evidence tendered at the public local inquiry indicated that the lands were intended for the provision of private building sites.
The order did not relate to any specific number of applicants for the provision of private housing sites but at the inquiry evidence was put forward on behalf of the Council which was intended to establish that there was a general need for the provision of such sites, and that the Council would have no difficulty in disposing of them if the land was acquired.
The principal objection to the order was to the effect that there was no need for the compulsory acquisition of land for the purposes for which the order was made.
On the basis of the evidence presented at the inquiry and the report of my Inspector I was satisfied that the order should not be confirmed.
The order was made for the purposes of Part III of the Housing of the Working Classes Acts, 1890 to 1958, which incorporate section 8 of the Housing (Ireland) Act, 1919, and section 31 of the Housing (Amendment) Act 1952. Section 35 of the latter Act is incorporated with the Labourers Acts, 1883 to 1958.