asked the Minister for Local Government whether he sanctioned the demolition of Caragh Lake Hotel, Caragh Lake, County Kerry, and, if so, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Demolition of County Kerry Hotel.
An appeal was submitted to me under the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, by the owner of the premises known as the Caragh Lake Hotel against the decision of the Kerry housing authority refusing him permission to demolish the premises. The manager stated that he had refused permission "in view of the importance of the tourist trade". The Act provides that a person shall not demolish in whole or in part or use otherwise than as a dwelling-house any habitable house unless he has the permission of the housing authority or of the Minister given on appeal. In deciding the appeal I had regard to the recent history of the premises as an hotel, the unsuccessful efforts of the owner to dispose of it in the open market for the purposes of an hotel and the impracticability of the future use of the premises for dwelling purposes within the meaning of the Housing Acts. In all the circumstances I decided that I would not have been justified in using the provisions of a Housing Act to uphold the reason given by the manager for refusing to permit the demolition of the premises.
Can the Minister say whether or not it is true that certain hoteliers, whose reputation is of the very highest, made a bid for the purchase of these premises with a view to running the premises as an hotel; and, if so, will he agree that it is an act amounting almost to sabotage of the tourist industry to permit the demolition of these premises?
That seems to be a separate question.
It is. I am aware that no reasonable offer was made for the premises and the only thing I could suggest the owner would do is hand it over as a royal residence for Puck.
It is a shame it is being knocked down anyway.
It is a pity somebody did not buy it.
Did I understand a reference to the royalty of Puck by the Minister?
Yes.
What does he mean by that?
That is another question.