asked the Minister for Local Government if he will give the reasons for, and explain all the circumstances surrounding, the exclusion of 101 acres from the total land acquired in the Kilbarrack area on a Compulsory Purchase Order by the Dublin Corporation for the purpose of providing local authority housing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilbarrack (Dublin) Land Acquisition.
16.
Of the area referred to in the question about six acres, consisting of four small plots were excluded from the Compulsory Purchase Order because it was considered that their acquisition would impose undue hardship on the owners and that their exclusion would not adversely affect the proposed housing development.
The remaining lands excluded from the Order, 95 acres approximately, were the subject of a planning application for private housing over a year before the making of the Compulsory Purchase Order and the Corporation refused permission because they intended that the lands, with other lands in the area, should be acquired for municipal housing. An appeal against the Corporation's decision was received by me in August, 1962. It was represented to me that the development of the lands for private housing of the type proposed could be undertaken more rapidly by the appellants than by the Corporation and that such development would help to meet a pressing need for reasonably low-cost housing. It was also represented to me that the provision of these houses by private development would in some measure relieve the Corporation's own housing burden. Having considered all the facts, I decided on 7th May, 1963, to grant the planning permission sought. Despite this grant of permission, the Corporation included the lands in the Compulsory Purchase Order made by them in the following July. At the public local inquiry held in connection with the Compulsory Purchase Order no new facts were adduced which would, in my opinion, justify reconsideration of my decision on the planning appeal. The lands were accordingly excluded from the Compulsory Purchase Order.
Is the Minister aware that at the time he granted the appeal, October, 1964, it was at the height of the Dublin housing crisis and there were over 8,000 families waiting for Corporation housing?
Yes, I am aware of that but I think the point I have made, indeed, the real point at issue in this case, was that two years previous to that, after full consideration and examination of the town planning appeal in respect of these 90 odd acres, I gave permission on that appeal for private development and yet within two months of that appeal being granted by me the Dublin Corporation proposed to acquire it and when the time came for the official determination after the inquiry I found no new reasons had been put forward at the inquiry to change my outlook or what I had already decided two years previously.
Is the Minister aware that two previous appeals, one in 1946 and one in 1955, were refused by his Department?
Pardon?
Two previous appeals were made against the Corporation's decision to acquire the lands for municipal housing and both appeals, one in 1946 and one in 1955, were refused by the Minister's Department.
I am afraid I am not aware of that. I am not saying that it is not so. I cannot either accept or deny that at the moment.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I should like, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Has Deputy Coughlan any more advice to give the Deputy in the matter?
The advice was good.
And well taken.