asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the conditions on which the county council property at the Burrow, Portrane, was sold; the name of the person who purchased the property; why the sale of the property was not advertised, in order that the ratepayers and other people living in the district could be afforded an opportunity of purchasing same; and if he will make a statement concerning the whole matter; and, further, if he is now prepared to have the site advertised for sale.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of County Council Property.
The facts are as follows: In November, 1944, a Mr. O'Leary submitted to the county council a proposal to build a shop on a site adjoining his premises beside the beach at Portrane. Permission was refused under the Town and Regional Planning Acts inasmuch as the proposal would conflict with the county council scheme for the development of the area. Mr. O'Leary then proposed to the county council that he be allowed to rent the piece of land beside the mental hospital grounds in the village of Portrane for the purpose of erecting thereon a suitable structure to be used as a shop. A proposal to this effect was submitted to my Department, and I was advised that the rent proposed, namely £10 a year, on condition that a suitable structure be erected on the site, was reasonable. No exception was, therefore, taken to the proposal.
Mr. O'Leary subsequently intimated to the council that he did not intend to proceed with the building. In July last, a Mr. Dockery applied to the county council for a lease of the site on the terms proposed, namely, £10 a year on condition that a suitable structure is erected thereon, in accordance with the requirements of the county council. There is no statutory obligation on the local authority to advertise the proposed sale, and I do not propose to take any further action in the matter.
I am not interested in either Mr. O'Leary or Mr. Dockery, because neither of these men was entitled to get the site unless it had been advertised for sale. Mr. Dockery does not belong to the district at all. What I want to know is why this property, which belongs to the ratepayers of County Dublin, was not advertised for sale and everybody interested, particularly local people, given an opportunity to buy it, as all property of local authorities is advertised.
I am not in a position to answer the precise supplementary the Deputy has put, but, if he will put it down again, I shall endeavour to give him the reasons. I must refer the Deputy, however, to the latter part of my reply, that there is no statutory obligation on the local authority to advertise the proposed sale.
Can the Minister say what is the area of the piece of ground in question?
I cannot.
It is a very important point.
I do not think it is of such importance as the Deputy assumes because I have been advised that the rent of £10 was reasonable.
If we knew the area, we would have a better idea of that.