asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that in recent negotiations with the South Dublin Rural District Council for a letting of portion of Tallaght Aerodrome, the Commissioners of Public Works fixed a rent of £70 per annum for approximately 4 acres on a 99 years' lease; whether, in view of the fact that this Council can purchase adjoining land outright at about £80 per acre, and that the buildings on the site, instead of being an asset, involve a costly process of reconstruction, he considers this rent could not be reduced; whether closer co-operation between the Board of Works and the Rural Council is not advisable in face of the present scarcity of housing facilities for agricultural labourers.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TALLAGHT AERODROME.
The South Dublin Rural District Council have been in negotiation with the Commissioners of Public Works for a 99 years' lease of some four acres at Tallaght Aerodrome with the object of converting the buildings thereon into dwellings. The Council's offer was considered inadequate but the Commissioners are still open to consider an improved offer.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the amount demanded, namely £70, would over a period of 99 years amount to the huge total of £6,930 or to a total estimated cost of £20,000 and does he believe that that is the right way to assist a local authority in building houses which are so badly needed?
Mr. BOURKE
I think that on reflection the Deputy will realise that the intervention of a third party in a matter of this kind will not be helpful and that it only prejudices one of the parties in negotiating a purely business matter. As a matter of fact, other offers have been made which are more favourable from our point of view than that of the South Dublin Council.
In view of the fact that the site is required for housing, will not the Department give special consideration to the offer of the South Dublin Rural Council?
Mr. BOURKE
That is a point that will be taken into consideration.