Richard Bruton
Question:202 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the plans the Office of Public Works have for lands (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - OPW Proposals for Dublin Lands.
The lands at the Casino comprise about ten acres of which 5.65 acres are owned by the Commissioners of Public Works. Dublin Corporation agreed some years ago that the remaining corporation owned lands of about 4.7 acres should be kept as a green area and the Office of Public Works undertook to landscape the entire as befits the national monument.
The objective of the Office of Public Works in landscaping the area was to try to recapture the ambience of the Casino, which, in its original setting, had 500 acres of sweeping estate land with views of Dublin Bay and the Wicklow Mountains. With only ten acres of space, the best way to do this was to gain the maximum area of parkland in front of the Casino and create an illusion of space by placing mounds at strategic points. This parkland setting when fully matured will be available for passive recreation purposes. However, as agreed with the corporation, the Office of Public Works have left an area of some 1,500 sq. metres of the 4.7 acres owned by the corporation at the north-east corner of the site free for development by the corporation for active recreation purposes.