andMr. P. Belton asked the Minister for Finance what disused schools have been disposed of by sales in the last 12 months; if these sales took place by local public auction or by invitation of tender; and if he will give names, location and price obtained.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Schools.
18.
As I stated in the course of my reply to the recent debate on this year's Estimate for Public Works and Buildings Vote the majority of the national schools which have been closed are the property of local trustees, and that where they are the property of the State they are disposed of to the best advantage. Seven schools in the latter category were disposed of in the last 12 months and, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the form of a tabular statement to be circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Former National Schools sold since 1st November, 1969.
|
Name of former School |
Location |
Method of disposal |
Price |
|
Knocknagorna N.S. |
Athea, County Limerick |
Sold following public invitation to tender. |
£300 |
|
Gormanstown N.S. |
Ardfinnan, Clonmel, County Tipperary. |
do. |
£530 |
|
Killea N.S. |
Near Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim. |
do. |
£65 |
|
Glandore N.S. |
Skibbereen, County Cork |
Sold by public auction |
£825 |
|
Cloghoola N.S. |
Millstreet, County Cork |
Sold to St. Brendan's Diocesan Trust as a result of negotiations. |
£240 |
|
Fionán Naofa N.S. |
Dingle, County Kerry |
do. |
£1,250 |
|
Killoscully N.S. |
Newport, County Tipperary. |
Sold to trustees on behalf of the local community, as a result of negotiations. |
£275 |
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a certain firm here in Dublin is selling schools down as far as Glandore in County Cork and is he also aware of the grave difficulty local people have in getting in touch with those auctioneers? Surely there are competent auctioneers in Cork city and county who could sell the schools there instead of having them offered for sale by an auctioneer here in this city.
The auctioneer in Cork is not a member of Taca. The one here is.
Of the seven schools sold in 1969 only one was sold by public auction.
Would the Minister change the rule now and give local auctioneers down the country a chance of selling these schools?
Glandore was sold by a local auctioneer.
It was not. It was sold by North & Co. Was this school not sold in Dublin — 3,000 sq. ft. for £825? It cost somewhere in the region of £12,000 to build. The people in Cork are asked to travel over 400 miles to buy this school. Who bought it? That school, without any doubt, was sold to some person in the know. There is no doubt about that.
If the Deputy is so aware of the situation as he pretends to be he should know that it was advertised in all the local papers and also by means of local posters.
Why was a local auctioneer not asked to sell it instead of asking people to come to Dublin for the sale? In view of the unsatisfactory reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary I propose, with your permission, Sir, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to say that we sell a lot more than schools.
3,000 sq. ft. for £825. You would not buy a cowshed for that now.