I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. The Office of Public Works are attempting to sell off to private interests eight-and-a-half acres of land in Shankill which is needed by the local community for amenity purposes. The land is part of the Chantilly Stud Farm which was cut off by the Bray-Shankill bypass. It is located between the bypass and St. Anne's primary school.
For some time past the local community in Shankill have been seeking this land for amenity use. Specifically, a local football club — Vale View Football Club — wished to locate their permanent home on the lands. In addition, St. Anne's primary school have been seeking part of the lands for playing facilities. In response to these wishes, Dublin County Council had been engaged in discussions with the Office of Public Works with a view to acquiring the land. Negotiations had taken place between Dublin County Council and Office of Public Works valuers. Those negotiations broke down in February last because the Office of Public Works were seeking the full development value of the land. I understand they were seeking £100,000 per acre. However, Dublin County Council were seeking to purchase it at its amenity value. The Office of Public Works suggested arbitration, a worthless suggestion, because agreement had not been reached on the basis for arbitration, that is whether it would be at amenity or development value.
About two months ago the Office of Public Works put the lands on the open market for building purposes. At that time the Office of Public Works may not have been aware of Dublin County Council's zoning intentions for the land. However, they can be under no illusion about it now.
On 13 May last Dublin County Council decided to rezone the land from residential to amenity use. Because the review of the development plan is not yet complete this rezoning has not been confirmed. It will almost certainly have been confirmed by the time any potential planning application is lodged. It is virtually certain that planning permission would be refused for any development on this land. Therefore, there is no point in attempting to sell the land unless, of course, the Minister is endeavouring to make a present of it to some property speculator who, having failed to obtain planning permission, will then take Dublin County Council to the cleaners for planning compensation.
The sale of this land makes no sense since it is needed as an amenity by the local community. Dublin County Council are still interested in acquiring it at amenity value, confirmation of which I obtained as recently as 5 o'clock this evening. It is being rezoned for amenity use and so cannot be built on. If the Minister proceeds with its sale, ultimately it may result in a net loss to the taxpayer.
I now repeat the plea I made previously to the Minister of State — which he has so far rejected — to withdraw this land from sale and instruct his valuers to reenter discussions with Dublin County Council valuers to sell this land at amenity value.
The Minister cannot claim that he was not aware the land was intended for amenity use. The Minister for Finance, in a written reply to me to a parliamentary question on 27 November 1990 stated:
The question of the possible use of portion of the lands for sports facilities has recently been raised and this matter will be taken into account in considering the sale proposals made by the County Council.
I must ask what has changed the Minister's attitude since then when, exactly two years ago, it was known this land was intended for use as a sports facility, at which time apparently the Minister was prepared to take that into account in reaching agreement with Dublin County Council in relation to its price.
However, the Minister now tries to deny that Dublin County Council were even interested in the land. It does not make sense for one public body to sell out of public ownership land which is needed by another public body, especially when the whole transaction could ultimately cost the public purse much more than would be saved.
The land was up for public auction last week and no bid was made. Indeed, any potential purchaser, given the circumstances surrounding this plot of land, would be well advised to steer clear. I would ask the Minister of State to withdraw the land from sale at this stage, have his valuers consult Dublin County Council valuers again and seek to agree a price. Dublin County Council are still interested, still willing to acquire the land which I contend would be the best method by which to deal with what has now become a very controversial plot of land.