Vol. 442 No. 7
38 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the delay in the processing of the application by a person (details supplied) in County Meath for the transfer of the fee simple interest in the new Mouth of the Boyne coastguard station; and when the Office of Public Works will issue the documents of transfer which were applied for on 3 July 1990.
The State does not hold the fee simple interest in this property — the lands let to the person in question are part of a larger property which the Commissioners of Public Works hold by virtue of a long lease. The commissioners have been unable to acquire the fee simple by negotiation with the owner and are awaiting the advice of the Chief State Solicitor on the question of their entitlement to its compulsory purchase.
It is the commissioners' understanding, however, that it is open to the person in question to approach the owner of the fee simple in regard to its acquisition and in that event, they, the commissioners, within their legal entitlement will cooperate in the process.
