With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 24 together.
I have seen the report in question and, in so far as I can verify from the information in my Department, the Dublin city projects listed represent 1,640,000 square feet, not all of which is for letting and only 225,000 square feet of which has been completed. I am not aware how many of the projects listed have permission from the Corporation but four of them, totalling 471,000 square feet, are before me on appeal.
Permission was obtained on appeal for development on the sites at Burlington Road, Lansdowne House, Carisbrooke House, Marlboro' House, 9/10 Dawson Street and Adelaide Road. In all these cases, the Minister imposed conditions reducing or limiting the floor area proposed to be provided. The criteria in relation to which planning appeals are decided are set out in section 26 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963.
I have no information as to the total number of residents whose dwellings were demolished in these cases. So far as I am aware existing premises on the sites were not occupied as dwellings when the appeals were made, with the exception of one case where it was the owner-occupier who sought and obtained permission. The former owners may still have been in residence in some cases.
In regard to the location and total floor area of all projects of property development in Dublin city where permission has been obtained since 1960 following a refusal by the planning authority, it would take an inordinate amount of staff time to go through all the appeals since that date and make the necessary calculations. In many cases copies of the plans are not now available in my Department and, in any event, projects are frequently altered or revised.