Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Acquisition of Property.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

339 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to a request made by a lease holder (details supplied) to buy out the freehold of a property upon which this lease holder has constructed a building; if he or his Department have indicated positively that it is in order for the lease holder to apply for this sale; if it is also in order to agree to such a sale subject to a satisfactory price being obtained by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23002/97]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

366 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the owners of a property (details supplied) constructed on land owned by his Department on foot of a lease granted on 27 December 1973 have applied to acquire the freehold of that property in order to enable them to complete their own financial restructuring; if he is currently in a position to agree to sell the freehold of the lease to enable this process to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23007/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 366 together.

Officials in the planning and building unit of my Department have been in correspondence with an applicant in relation to the acquisition of property at the location in question.

A number of legal issues has been raised. My Department is in contact with the chief State solicitor's office in this regard. The applicant has been kept informed of developments.