asked the Minister for Education if he is prepared to allow the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee to acquire by compulsory purchase a site in Walkinstown for a vocational school.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Walkinstown (Dublin) Vocational School.
45.
As the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee are endeavouring to complete by agreement the purchase of a site sanctioned by the Department for a vocational school at Walkinstown, the question of their acquiring that, or any site in the area by compulsory purchase does not at present arise.
Surely the Minister is aware that the efforts of the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee to get agreement to purchase a site have failed long since, that I asked his predecessor to agree to compulsory purchase, that he, too, decided not to, and there is no other site available in the area? This site is there waiting but, due to the prejudice of the landlord in this connection, it cannot be used as a school site, and we only want to clear the title.
I am aware of the history of this case, but I am not satisfied that at this stage it is essential to have compulsory purchase. I accept the fact that it may be necessary to do this but I am not satisfied that, as of now, it is necessary.
Is the Minister aware that we are on the verge of losing the site?
I am not so aware.
May I further ask the Minister what is the reason for the reluctance in using this power when he knows that for almost every housing site in County Dublin, we have to use compulsory purchase powers?
I think these powers should be used only where they are unavoidable.
Is it not true that they have never been used?
That may be so.
It is ridiculous.