: ——should take particular notice of it, because there is an abuse there at the moment. I hope the people concerned will notice the points I have made on it.
Deputy Murphy referred to the proposed fisheries research station at Kinsale. The Office of Public Works are at present seeking a suitable site for that building. The Deputy also referred to the need for priority lists in the erection of garda stations. The priorities for building garda stations are worked out in detail with the Department of Justice. Quite a large number of the smaller stations have been replaced by new buildings. This process will continue until all old, unsuitable stations have been replaced.
Deputy Donnellan mentioned a garda station at Tuam, County Galway. The erection of a new station is proposed at this centre and a suitable site is being sought. Deputy Filgate referred to Dundalk garda station. A major scheme of improvements will shortly begin at this station. The need for new and improved accommodation for prisoners has been taken into account and is being provided in this scheme, which has been planned in close consultation with the gardaí.
Deputy Tully mentioned the garda station at Navan. Agreement was reached to acquire the former school premises but there has been some difficulty about getting satisfactory title. However, there has been some progress in clearing the title recently and the acquisition of the property should be completed shortly. The Deputy also referred to the question of a garda station at Laytown/ Bettystown. It is proposed to erect a new garda station at this centre and a site at Laytown is being investigated.
Deputy Filgate referred to Carrickarnon Customs Station. The whole question of facilities for cross border traffic in the Dundalk/Carrickarnon area is under close examination at present in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners. I expect that satisfactory facilities will be provided in that area before too long.
Deputy Tully referred to a cut back on works to be carried out at Gormanston Camp. The Office of Public Works are not concerned with any works at that centre. They will be a matter for the Minister for Defence.
Deputy White made a plea for the preservation of our heritage houses. I am sure the Deputy is aware of An Taisce Report on this subject and, in particular, of that body's considered opinion that the new capital taxes had serious implications for these houses and would endanger elements of the country's heritage already under pressure. The changes in capital taxation announced in the recent budget will help to relieve this pressure and, as the Minister for Finance announced in his budget statement, he is considering how best to draft legislation aimed at relieving these properties of capital acquisitions tax.
Deputy Lemass raised a point in relation to the preservation of buildings. I can assure her that great care is taken by the Office of Public Works in dealing with any buildings that are being refurbished so that no features that merit preservation will be damaged.
Deputy Mitchell asked me to ensure that the Thomas Davis memorial which was damaged in January 1977 be put right as soon as possible. Extensive damage was caused both to the ornamental features of the memorial and to the water supply system. In the course of carrying out repairs, the opportunity has been taken to strengthen the sculpture as a whole and to overhaul completely the water supply and electrical systems. The necessary repairs are still in hands and every effort will be made to have them completed as soon as possible.
There appeared to be some confusion in the minds of Deputies with regard to courthouses. Deputy Murphy, Deputy Filgate and Deputy White referred to them. Courthouse accommodation is primarily a matter for the local authority. The Office of Public Works is brought in only when the local authority fails to discharge its responsibility.
Deputy Murphy also commented on the accommodation provided for the National Museum and the National Library. As I have already mentioned, additional accommodation is being provided for the museum. The needs of the library have not been overlooked. Additional space is being provided at Nos. 2 and 3 Kildare Street and it is planned to erect a new building for library purposes at the rear of these houses. Accordingly it is not necessary to consider providing space for the library on the other side of the street.
Deputy Lemass mentioned the need for providing more telephone exchange buildings in general and also the pressing need for a new post office in Ballyfermot. These matters are matters primarily for the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, who also decides on the priorities. My office is concerned only in the erection of these buildings at the request of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.
Deputy Lemass also stressed the need for an employment exchange in Ballyfermot and I am glad to be able to tell her a suitable site for such a building is now being sought.
Deputy Donnellan and Deputy Begley referred to the protection of wrecks around the coast. So far as the Commissioners of Public Works have functions in regard to the protection of historic wrecks, it is proposed to make provision for them in new legislation to deal with national monuments.
Deputy Mitchell and Deputy Lawlor referred to the allocation of additional land in the Phoenix Park to the Zoo. While I sympathise with the Zoological Society's difficulties in regard to space, it must be borne in mind that the Commissioners are under constant pressure from other bodies and associations, which enjoy the exclusive use of certain parts of the park, to grant extensions of their present holdings. Having regard to the greatly increased demand on the Phoenix Park by the general public in recent years it has been decided not to allow the enclosure of any further areas of the park.
Deputy Begley referred to a proposal to extend the graveyard at Muckross Abbey which arose during his term of office as Parliamentary Secretary. The position is that, at Deputy Begley's request, the Commissioners wrote formally to the Department of Finance on 11 March 1976 seeking a direction on the setting aside of two acres in the Bourn Vincent Memorial Park, Killarney, for the extension of the burial ground attached to Muckross Abbey. On the following day a letter issued from the Parliamentary Secretary to the then Minister for Finance seeking sanction to the granting of the additional ground required. The Minister's sanction, subject to certain conditions, was conveyed to the Commissioners by letter dated 29 March 1976. Because of conflicting interests the matter has not yet been finalised and continues to be the subject of discussions and correspondence between the Commissioners, Kerry County Council and interested local groups.
In regard to the Deputy's contention that the Commissioners are showing little interest in Muckross House, I would refer him to my introductory statement on the Estimate where, under subhead E, I said that work is proceeding on the planning of the first stage of the project to improve and expand the interpretative and educational aspects of Muckross House.
Deputy Begley raised two questions relating to Derrynane Park—the extension of the burial ground and the extension of the football pitch. The existing burial ground is on Abbey Island and can be reached on foot across a sandbar, except at very high tide. Apart from the fact that the burial ground is at the entrance to the island of some 90 acres intended for use for amenity and recreational purposes and the general objection to disposing of the land in any of the parks, there are serious practical difficulties in the way of extending the burial ground. Because of the rocky nature of the terrain only small isolated areas, much less than the area required by the county council, would be suitable for burial purposes. I trust that meets Deputy Begley's question on the matter, a matter on which he put a great deal of emphasis.
In regard to the extension of the football pitch in the sand dunes area, the Commissioners do not favour the playing of outdoor sports in this area as it conflicts with their overall plans for the management and development of the park. Apart from this, the local football club consider that this pitch should be extended, but any extension would involve expensive drainage and filling without any guarantee of success. Because of the pressure on my office in regard to this matter, I took the opportunity of visiting the area to see how best we could facilitate the football club concerned. In the interests of providing playing facilities for the people in the area the Commissioners some years ago laid out a football pitch in an area to the north of the public road adjoining the car park and provided a good grass sward. It is appreciated that the pitch is below standard size, but its extension would be both difficult and very expensive because of the nature of the ground. I cannot see any possibility of the Office of Public Works helping in this respect.
Deputy Begley said he regrets he did not, during the period when he had responsibility for the Office of Public Works, publicly thank Mr. John McShain for his generosity in presenting property in Killarney to the State. Perhaps it will help to set Deputy Begley's mind at rest if I tell him his predecessor, the late Henry Kenny, was not remiss in this regard. He paid tribute here in the House in 1973 to Mr. McShain for his donation of Inishfallen Island to the State.
I should like to take this opportunity to thank both Mr. McShain and Mrs. Grosvenor for the manner in which they have arranged for the sale of some of their property at Killarney. By giving the Office of Public Works first option, they have helped to ensure the preservation of the outstanding landscape around the Lakes of Killarney for the enjoyment of the Irish people and as a major attraction for foreign tourists.
Deputy Begley talked about Dingle Harbour which suffers from siltation and requires periodic dredging to maintain the bed levels. As the Harbour Commissioners are not equipped to carry out such work, the Office of Public Works are obliged to undertake it on their behalf. The current estimate of £10,000 referred to by Deputy Begley is based on a detailed engineering assessment of the extent of the dredging required. The question of providing a deep water pier at Dingle, as suggested by Deputy Begley, would, in the first instance, be a matter for either Roinn na Gaeltachta or the Department of Fisheries.
Deputy Begley suggested—and I agree with him—that a brochure should be available for tourists giving them information about National Monuments. The Commissioners publish guidebooks to some of the more important monuments, for example, Cashel, Glendalough, Newgrange, and so on, and it is intended to extend the coverage, but it would be impossible to say now when any particular monument would be the subject of a brochure. I assure the Deputy I have this very much in mind because it is of vital importance that, when people visit monuments, the history of those monuments should be available to them.
The question of restriction on building in the Burren area was raised by Deputy White. This is a matter for the local authority from which planning permission has to be obtained. The Commissioners' role is to conserve a representative area of the Burren in perpetuity by the acquisition and maintenance of it as a national park. This will also enable research to be carried out and will allow the general public to enjoy the unique qualities of the area, the strange rock formation, the profusion of rare flowers and rock plants, and the numerous items of archaeological interest. Trinity College and An Taisce have also acquired some land, a total of 140 acres, near the slopes of Mullaghmore for conservation and research purposes.
I think I have covered all the points raised. I have noted with interest all the matters raised by Deputies. I was very impressed by Deputies' contributions because they conveyed to me the awareness of Deputies of the importance of maintaining and developing parks and monuments. Their problems will have my fullest attention. Anything we can do to beautify the areas coming under our control will be done, and we will not hesitate to make the necessary money available. I hope I have not omitted to cover any matter raised by Deputies. If I have, or if further information is required, I shall only be too delighted to meet them and discuss any matters they raise. If they are not satisfied with anything in my reply, my Office will be available to them.
Finally I wish to thank very sincerely all those who congratulated me on my appointment as Minister and who wished me well in the discharge of my duties. It will be my endeavour to prove a worthy successor to all those who held this office in the past.
