Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 4

Written Answers. - Land Sales.

Noel Ahern

Question:

69 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance when lands (details supplied) in Dublin 9 were sold by the State; the reason a recent planning application shows the land to be still the property of the Office of Public Works; the price paid for the land; the reason the purchase was not finalised; if the sale is going ahead; if the sale price is fixed at the 1993 level; if land will be sold at today's valuation; if a penalty will be added to 1993 price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27378/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Cullen)

The lands referred to are still in the ownership of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland. The commissioners agreed, in principle and subject to contract, to sell the lands in 1994. Due to difficulties encountered in registering the State's title the sale was not completed and a contract was never executed.

The proposed purchasers lodged a planning application in December 2000 for their own adjacent property and included the site owned by the commissioners in their development plans. The development includes an apartment complex on the State owned site and the permission granted is conditional on them acquiring the site in question from the commissioners.

The commissioners are currently reassessing the value of the site in the context of today's market values before arranging for its sale.