As the Deputy representing the area where this school was sold, I would not be doing my duty to the people I represent if I did not say something about this transaction, for "transaction" I call it. Deputy Belton has explained the position clearly. He stated that this school is situated in the village of Glandore, County Cork, 210 miles from Dublin city. An advertisement appeared in the public press. Anybody in this locality who was interested in the sale of this school had, first and foremost, to find out where Messrs. North, auctioneers, had their premises in Dublin and then to hire a car, if they had not a car of their own, and travel the distance from Glandore to Dublin, and back again, in order to bid for this national school. Surely to God, in this day and age, the Department of Finance could get some responsible auctioneer in Cork for this purpose? I can assure the House that there are plenty of responsible auctioneers in Cork who are doing as much business as Messrs. North, or maybe more, even though they have not the "pull", and they would be quite capable of selling this school.
Why was this school picked out for public auction in the city of Dublin? Let me examine the following table of schools which were disposed of in the past year. The statement is as follows:—
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
|
Why were the other schools in that list not auctioned in Dublin? How is it that it was possible to have them sold after tender or else sold as a result of negotiations? They picked out the school in Glandore. I am voicing the opinion of the people in that locality. They will be very troubled when they read in the newspapers tomorrow that this area was singled out. Glandore is one of the loveliest villages in Ireland and property in that area is commanding a very high price. What went on behind the scenes here? Indeed, what has happened is no surprise to me because I am well aware of many similar transactions and I am sure the majority of the people are well aware of that fact, too. It is about time, however, that someone stood up here and brought these facts to the attention of the public at large. I know the person who bought this property. I know the people who were interested in it. I know many others who would have bid for this school if it had been auctioned in the locality. I am speaking now neither for Fine Gael nor for Fianna Fáil nor for labour: I am speaking for the community in the area who want to see justice done and who are determined that this type of thing will not happen again.
Is this auctioneering firm the sole firm which has been given the business of disposing of the property of the Department of Finance in this country? I want a clear answer to that question. Is any other firm of auctioneers in this country given the right to sell property in any part of the country belonging to the Department of Finance? Glandore is probably one of the farthest points from Dublin in this Republic and yet a firm of auctioneers in Dublin was chosen to dispose of this property in the fabulously beautiful village of Glandore. They did not go down. If they had gone down, it would be all right. They sold the property in their auction rooms here in Dublin. I want to know why this procedure was adopted. Why has this firm of auctioneers been given the right to sell the property?