asked the Minister for Defence why his Department failed to allow the Rehabilitation Institute to take over the old technical schools in Naas, County Kildare, for use by them although the Office of Public Works have agreed that the old schools can be handed over by County Kildare Vocational Education Committee; and if he is aware that since the buildings are in a bad condition already they are bound to deteriorate when there are no fires in them.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Naas Old Technical Schools.
63.
The premises mentioned, which form part of the State property at Naas known as Naas Military Barracks, are held on long lease from the Minister for Finance by the County Kildare Vocational Education Committee, who applied for the lessor's consent to the assignment of their interest to the Rehabilitation Institute.
The Commissioners of Public Works, who are the agents in the matter for the Minister for Finance, have been notified by my Department that there will be no objection to the proposed assignment by the committee of their leasehold to the Rehabilitation Institute as soon as vacant possession has been secured of a site within the Barrack area which is at present leased to the Naas Urban District Council and which is required by my Department for the erection of accommodation for military personnel. The completion of the arrangements for the acquisition of this site is in the hands of the Commissioners of Public Works and it is hoped that the matter will be brought to an early conclusion.
I understand that the Vocational Education Committee are responsible under the terms of their lease for all maintenance, external and internal, of the buildings situated on their leasehold.
Would the Minister not agree that this is a particularly despicable type of blackmail which his Department are using in order to obtain possession of a building which has nothing whatever to do with the one that the Rehabilitation Institute are trying to obtain? Why should the Department or the Office of Public Works hold up the people representing those in need of rehabilitation just because the Department of Defence want another building of which there is some difficulty in getting vacant possession?
If my Department had received better co-operation from the other interests, the matter would have been dealt with long ago. We are entitled to preserve certain areas for military accommodation.
The Rehabilitation Institute are entirely innocent victims in this. Blackmail is always a good lever, but it is despicable that the Department should indulge in these tactics. Would the Minister use his good offices in order to have this matter cleared up?
The matter is approaching completion.
The remaining question will appear on tomorrow's order paper.