asked the Minister for Lands if any communications have been received in his Department or the Land Commission from a local authority (name supplied) in relation to the purchase of two parcels of land, comprising a 30 acre tract and a 50 acre tract (details supplied); if so, if he will state the dates of any of the communications in the past six months, the nature of the communications, and the dates on which his Department replied to the communications from the local authority concerned; if the local authority made any inquiries as to the price which his Department would expect for the properties; and if a reply has been sent to the local authority.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Land.
25.
In the case referred to in the question the county council sought land for housing on an estate purchased by the Land Commission. Following discussions between officials of the Land Commission and representatives of the county council, the Land Commission agreed to make a 30-acre parcel available. At the same time the Land Commission indicated that, if the county council found that they required more land, they would be afforded an opportunity of making an offer for the 60-acre parcel (which includes a large house).
Letters from the county council to the Land Commission within the past six months were dated 14th September, 1965; 13th October, 1965; 6th December, 1965; 31st December, 1965, and 28th January, 1966. Replies issued by the Land Commission were dated 23rd September, 1965; 21st October, 1965; 27th October, 1965; 13th December, 1965; and 8th February, 1966. In general the letters from the county council sought information as to price required and terms of sale for each of the two parcels and, in the case of the 30-acre parcel, asked for modification of a condition which the Land Commission had proposed in their letter of 27th October, 1965. The Land Commission's letters to the county council have replied to all the questions raised in relation to the 30-acre parcel—and the condition which the county council wished to have set aside has in fact been set aside. As regards the 60-acre parcel, the Land Commission have explained that this property, if not purchased by the council, will probably be offered for sale by auction—in which event the prior disclosure of the reserve price would most likely prove a disadvantage. In these circumstances, the Land Commission have stated that they ought not name a price at this stage. If, however, the county council decide that they would wish to acquire the property, subject to agreement on price, and if they then decide what price they would be willing to pay, they can come to the Land Commission with a proposal and it should not be difficult to ascertain whether agreement is possible.