Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Purchase of Land for Halting Site.

Mr. Browne

(Carlow-Kilkenny): The car park in Tullow is situated in the centre of the town and it was a tremendous asset to the town until it was occupied by travellers a number of years ago. The entire car park is now occupied by caravans and, as a result, people who should be shopping in Tullow are inclined to go elsewhere because they are unable to find parking.

The councillors representing the Tullow area have come under tremendous pressure to have the car park cleared and business people are rightly indignant that their livelihoods are being affected by the absence of car parking facilities. The council, under pressure, purchased land and a public inquiry was held on 21 October 1997. A further addition of land was required for road widening and an application for this was submitted on 15 July 1998. I tabled a question on 22 October 1998 asking the Minister when he would make a decision on this matter.

The last line of his reply states: "I will give my decision as soon as possible." I tabled a question last week to which I got a written answer on Wednesday, 28 April. In an obvious effort to insult me, because there could be no other reason for it, the Minister gave me a one line reply which states: "I will give my decision on the matter as soon as possible." With due respect to the Minister of State, it does not help my humour that the Minister is not here to reply to this matter. It is outrageous that a person elevated to the rank of Minister would give the reply "I will give my decision on the matter as soon as possible." That is an insult. I got that reply last October. What are Ministers in office for if not to deal with problems that appear on their desks? I hope the Minister of State will be able to give me a decent answer. Ministers who give these type of one line replies and do not want to make decisions should be asked to resign and somebody else should be allowed do the work.

That one line reply has not been the Minister's best line to date. He backed down on the issue of the dual mandate and he repealed regulations to allow an Independent stand for local elections. His time would be better spent making decisions on important issues such as this. The people of Tullow and members of Carlow County Council deserve better answers than one line replies stating: "I will give my decision on the matter as soon as possible." I hope the Minister of State has a decent answer for me and I look forward to hearing it.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace):

I thank Deputy Browne for raising this matter. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, is unable to be in the House to respond and has asked me to do so on his behalf.

As the Deputy is aware, Carlow County Council submitted a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of land for the purposes of providing a halting site at Ardristan. A public local inquiry was held on 21 and 29 October 1997 into objections received against confirmation of the order. In the course of the inquiry, reference was made to the possible compulsory acquisition of further lands in the same vicinity for road realignment and legal issues to which this could give rise were mentioned in the course of the inquiry.

On 15 July 1998 the council submitted the Carlow County Council Compulsory Purchase (Roads No. 2) Order, 1998, which provides for the acquisition of land for the realignment of the N81 at Ellengrove, Tullow. A report on this compulsory purchase order has been received from the inspector. It will be appreciated that the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, is acting in a quasi-judicial role in determining the foregoing orders and must give full and careful consideration to the case made by all parties before making a decision. Having regard to his quasi-judicial role and the need to give full and careful consideration to the issues involved, including issues arising from the making of orders for separate purposes in relation to adjacent lands, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment in the House on the merits or otherwise of the two orders currently before the Minister for consideration. I assure the Deputy that there will be no undue delay on the Minister's part in finalising the matter and he will give his decision as soon as possible.

Mr. Browne

(Carlow-Kilkenny): That is another insult. It represents an abuse of democracy in the House, nothing less.

An Ceann Comhairle:

We must move on to the next matter. I call Deputy Flanagan.