I take it the understanding is that, in so far as it may be required subsequently, any of the Estimates passed today can be dealt with on token Estimates. That is the understanding, I take it.
Excess Vote, 1972-73. - Vote 9: Public Works and Buildings (Supplementary) (Resumed).
Debate resumed on the following motion:
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £10 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1975, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of Public Works; for expenditure in respect of public buildings; for the maintenance of certain parks and public works; for the execution and maintenance of drainage and other engineering works; for expenditure arising from damage to the property of External Governments; and for payment of a grant-in-aid.
—(The Tánaiste.)
It may not be possible this session.
I understand.
On procedure, is it the intention that whatever questions may be raised on each of the Estimates will be taken seriatim and dealt with in that fashion?
Yes.
I should like to ask one or two questions on this Estimate. On the last occasion the Estimate was before the House Deputies on this side put forward a case for a contribution by the State towards the purchase and acquisition of the lands at Fota Island. We pointed out that this was a matter in the national interest, that this was a public amenity which ought to be acquired in the national interest. The response from the Minister at the time was that this was purely a local amenity and did not, therefore, warrant any contribution by the State for its acquisition and it should be acquired by the local authorities concerned. Unfortunately the local authorities concerned—Cork Corporation and Cork County Council—did not find it within their financial ability to acquire this estate. In the meantime it was stated publicly that the authorities of University College, Cork, were interested in its acquisition for their own purposes. If that were the case then the State would, willy-nilly, have to make a contribution and the property would be used exclusively for the purposes of University College, Cork, to the exclusion of the public at large.
I am not in a position to anticipate what plans UCC may have for the use of these lands in the event of acquisition. If the authorities of UCC do not acquire the property then, as far as is known, it is unlikely to be acquired by anybody because of the strictures on its use. In the light of recent developments I want to ask the Minister, or his Parliamentary Secretary, to consider again the acquisition of Fota Island and make a contribution from the State to supplement the amounts the two local authorities—Cork County Council and Cork Corporation—are prepared to make available.
The second point I want to raise is a matter I want to deal with as objectively as possible. Two years ago, the Parliamentary Secretary will remember, in the course of the debate on the Estimate for the Office of Public Works I raised with him the possibility of the acquisition of an official residence for the Taoiseach. No reference has been made to that since and I have not pursued the matter, for obvious reasons; I do not want to appear to be making a suitably comfortable habitat for myself in the next couple of years.
Is the Deputy's memory gone again?
I suggest the Parliamentary Secretary might put a target date on the provision of such accommodation—say, in ten years time when neither the present Taoiseach nor I will expect to be the incumbent of the office. I do not know what the present Taoiseach's experience is but I certainly found it difficult at times to live, as I said on the last occasion, on the side of a street in Dublin when pickets from different organisations were frequenting the space in front of my house. The house was semi-detached and there were young children in the immediate locality and I could well imagine the parents of these young children being rather apprehensive, to say the least, of what action might be taken by certain groups. There are a number of people coming regularly to the house of the head of Government on various missions. I do not know what the position will be as regards law and order in 1985. Perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary would give consideration to this matter. It is desirable that there should be an official residence for the head of Government here as there is in almost every other country. It is not merely for the sake of prestige. There is a certain amount of security involved as well.
These are the two points which I want to raise at this stage. I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to tell us whether there is any change of heart in relation to the contribution by the State for the acquisition of Fota Island.
I was under the impression that I would be allowed to reply to the Deputy's contribution in the debate. I did not realise that in a reply to an Estimate the time was limited. Otherwise I would have answered the ex-Taoiseach's query.
I am not an exTaoiseach. I am a former Taoiseach. There is a subtle distinction.
Mr. Kenny
I want to tell the House and Deputy J. Lynch that Deputy Seán Brosnan raised that very question during his contribution to the debate. It was one of the salient points in his arguments. I have a note on this point which I will read:
Deputy Brosnan again raised the question of Fota Island and suggested that the State should take over responsibility for the maintenance of the amenity area including the house and arboretum.
As Deputies are aware, the UCC have an option on the purchase of the whole of Fota Island and I understand that it would be their intention to allow the public access to parts of it. They have on their staff persons highly qualified in agriculture, botany, zoology, etc., competent to advise in all aspects of the management of Fota. I cannot see any necessity or justification for the State to become involved in any way in the administration of the property.
That gives an indication of the opinion of the Minister for Finance as regards his becoming involved in financing the purchase of Fota Island. Does that answer the Deputy's question?
Not satisfactorily, but it is an answer.
Mr. Kenny
The only satisfactory answer to the Deputy would be that the Department of Finance would offer financial assistance for the purchase of Fota Island. I understand UCC can well afford to buy this island and take the responsibility. It would be their responsibility to allow the citizens of Cork to avail of the amenities there. As I understand it, this island is not a national amenity but rather a local one. The people of Cork and UCC should be well able to look after their own amenity.
I may raise the matter with the Minister for Education in regard to the ability of UCC to acquire the property without State assistance. I do not believe they can afford it. The Parliamentary Secretary was very glib in saying they could.
They built a grand opera house.
With local money.
They could do the same with Fota Island.
Mr. Kenny
As regards the second query by Deputy J. Lynch, there are a number of residences in the country which are under consideration for take-over by the Office of Public Works. None has been designated as a residence for a Taoiseach. There is a certain number of residences which might be suitable. If one proved particularly suitable it would be taken over for whatever purpose it might be designated. One of those purposes might be for use as a residence for a Taoiseach in the interests of security and for peace and tranquillity and quiet week-ends for him. I will communicate with the Deputy if such a scheme comes to fruition point.
Arising out of what the Parliamentary Secretary said in regard to the acquisition of Fota Island, may I ask if the Minister is not prepared to purchase the amenity area would he be prepared to supply the finance for the maintenance and upkeep of the amenity area only?
Mr. Kenny
In my reply I stated that UCC have within their own staff men who are competent in every phase of ecology, zoology, and biology and they can look after this amenity area. I understand that it is their intention to allow the citizens of Cork to avail of the amenity.
Vote put and agreed to.