Tá áthas orm go bhfuil an deis seo agam an cheist seo a ardú leis an Aire agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Aire as ucht teacht isteach agus éisteacht liom tráthnóna.
In 1991, long before the Deputy was Minister for Justice, a proposal was put by the people in the Maam Valley, Connemara, to the Office of Public Works and the Department of Justice which had much merit. A large old Garda barracks is situated in the Maam Valley with one resident garda. For security purposes there is no need for this big building. The proposal submitted was that the Garda barracks should be transferred to the local community for use as a community centre and in return the local people would provide, free of charge, to the Department's specification, a brand new Garda barracks.
We have all heard of Aladdin's lamp and old lamps for new. What was being offered was a purpose-built dwelling that would be suited to modern requirements in the Maam Valley. In return it was hoped that the Garda barracks, which is an old large building, could be made available to the community.
We hear much about communities helping themselves in self-help projects. It could be fairly said that this proposal was innovative and positive. In 1996 we are no nearer to getting a decision on the proposal than in 1991.
In 1991 a letter was received from the Office of Public Works stating that the matter was being investigated. In February 1995, in reply to a question raised, the response was that the options open to us have not been fully examined. With issues like this somebody has to ensure that the buck passing stops. If it cannot be done the community should be told. It would be more honest than continually saying that issues are being examined. If it can be done it should be done now. By any standard, four years should have been enough time in which to evaluate the merits of this simple and positive proposal.
A question that arises is whether in the event of a transfer of State property it would have to go to public auction. In view of the fact that a local community is involved, could some arrangement be made whereby the property would be valued and transferred in that way? The local community has also raised questions regarding the condition of the property but they could all be overcome. If the property was transferred to them in return for their building brand new alternative accommodation a clause could be inserted in the deeds providing, in the event of the property ever being transferred to private ownership, any proceeds arising from that transfer would be indexed and any surplus created would be transferred to the Department. That is not the intention; the intention is to use it in perpetuity for community purposes. I do not think anybody would quibble with conditions that would protect the public interest.
Public ownership is not only State ownership. We have to recognise other forms of public ownership such as community ownership and to draw up proper deeds of trust that would ensure that items would be truly in public ownership and would not be exploited for private personal gain. Those matters could be overcome. I ask the Minister to ensure that a deadline is given in the near future — if it cannot be given today — for a firm decision on this original and reasonable proposal.
This is a community which has suffered a huge population decrease. There has been good economic development in the general area, although Maam has not gained to the extent we would have wished. However, this is a genuine effort by a community to lift itself. I am sure the Minister more than appreciates what is involved as my colleague, Deputy McCormack, has beaten a trail to the same doors on this issue. We are ad idem as to the merit of the proposal and I hope the Minister will in some way facilitate the community.
