Vol. 305 No. 6
asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the delay in taking over the De La Salle school premises at Navan, County Meath which are being acquired for use as a Garda station; and if he is aware that, in the interim, while the premises remains unoccupied, they are subject to vandalism.
436.
asked the Minister for Finance (a) if he is aware that the De La Salle Brothers school in Navan, County Meath, which is in the process of being transferred to the Office of Public Works for use as a Garda station, has been empty since early in 1977 and has been vandalised; (b) when the Office of Public Works will take over the building; (c) when it will be occupied as a Garda station; (d) if he will arrange to have the building occupied by the Garda, both for its protection and to provide much needed accommodation for them; and (e) if he will explain the cause of the delay.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together. Agreement was reached in 1976 for the purchase by the Commissioners of Public Works of the De La Salle Monastery at Navan with a view to its adaptation as a Garda station, but the vendors were unable to proceed with the sale pending resolution of certain title difficulties which have taken a long time to resolve. The way is now almost clear for the execution of the contract for sale, and subject to the agreement of the vendors, the commissioners would be prepared to take over the building at that stage.
A sketch scheme of adaptation works has already been prepared and discussed with the Garda authorities. I cannot say how long it may be before the premises can be occupied as a Garda station, but the possibility of having it partially occupied in advance of full adaptation will be considered in consultation with the Department of Justice and the Garda.
I am aware that the building has been the subject of a certain amount of vandalism while unoccupied but the Office of Public Works are not in a position to exercise control over the property in advance of acquisition or at least until the contract for sale has been executed.
