asked the Minister for Finance what use is now being made of the premises which were purchased for use as a Garda station at Rock-chapel, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Premises.
9.
The building and the greater part of the site having been declared surplus to State requirements, they have been put on the market for sale. It is intended to use the balance of the site for the erection of a rural automatic telephone exchange.
I did not catch the first part of the reply. Is it being offered for sale? I am sure the Parliamentary Secretary would agree that it is high time something is done with it. It was purchased eight years ago and the door was never opened since.
The matter is out for tender now and the tenders are due in on 9th June.
Would I be correct in saying that no Department knew where the key was until I put down the question?
This property was first purchased on behalf of the Minister for Justice. Subsequently it was decided to have only a one-man station there but there was difficulty in this because the one man posted there found it hard to get meals in the locality. In the meantime the Department of Justice had been reviewing the organisation of the police force and in 1969 the Department of Justice informed the Office of Public Works that they were going to close this station permanently. At that stage the Office of Public Works communicated with other Government Departments to see if any of them required this property or any part of it. The Department of Posts and Telegraphs do require part of it and the balance is now out for tender and tenders are due in on 9th June.