asked the Minister for Finance whether the Government have reconsidered their attitude to the future disposal of No. 1 Hume Street and No. 46 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin; and what steps if any they intend to take to facilitate their preservation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Presentation of Dublin Buildings.
53.
The Government have not reconsidered their decision to dispose of the State's interest in No. 1 Hume Street and No. 46 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin. A final decision has not, however, been taken regarding the method of disposal. There have been consultations in this regard with a deputation from Bord Fáilte, an Chomhairle Ealaíon, the National Monuments Advisory Council and An Taisce whose representations are being considered.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say when he is likely to have some information about this?
The matter has been more or less postponed now by the Green Property's offer for three months to allow some other interests to buy this property from them—no, I beg your pardon, I am mixing up my buildings——
That is a very revealing reply. The Parliamentary Secretary says the sale is postponed because the Green Property Company does not want to proceed——
No, I apologise. I was confusing Nos. 45 and 46 for a moment. The position is that these houses will be sold——
The Parliamentary Secretary just told us that the Government did not own No. 45.
Our interest in No. 46 is very short, indeed, in terms of house property. The lease is owned by the development company which owns the other properties in the area and I have no doubt they will evict us as soon as the lease is up. The only property in which the Government have had full rights is No. 1 Hume Street. We propose to sell this as soon as it is convenient to do so.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give us an assurance that when it is sold a condition will be attached in regard to preserving the facade?
That is a planning matter.
Wait a minute. I am asking about the conditions of sale.
That is a separate question.
I have said that no final decision has been taken regarding the method of sale.
The Parliamentary Secretary referred to various bodies which he said were involved—was he referring to No. 1 Hume Street?
Yes, and No. 46 St. Stephen's Green.
There are various bodies involved such as Bord Fáilte and——
Yes, Bord Fáilte, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, the National Monuments Advisory Council and An Taisce.
Is there any possibility that the Parliamentary Secretary or the Government would consider preserving one of these buildings as——
No.
They will be disposed of in spite of the fact that there are discussions——
I should like to make it quite clear that to restore these buildings would cost about £40,000 and even then they would be completely unsuitable for Government office accommodation in modern conditions. I certainly would not recommend that the Government should divert £40,000 from housing or some other vital social service, or education, for the purpose of preserving these buildings.
How are they to be sold? Will it be by advertising for tenders?
(Interruptions.)
It was my intention to dispose of them by auction but the Government are going to have another look into the matter.
Leaving aside the difficulty of reconciling the Parliamentary Secretary's statement with the assurance given by his predecessor that this house would not be sold——
That is not so.
What is not so?
No such statement was ever made by my predecessor.
Such a statement was made, published and never repudiated——
It was repudiated by me in this House.
Not by the person who made the statement.
(Interruptions.)
Do not be telling lies.
Leaving that on one side and leaving aside the question of planning and the method of sale which are irrevelant, the question I asked was about the conditions of sale. Would the Parliamentary Secretary give the House an assurance that when the house is sold, if it is to be sold, there will be a condition attached that the facade will be preserved in its present form and——
I answered that.
——the Government will not seek to make a speculative profit by selling for development?
No.