asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend facilities for cross-country running in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Phoenix Park, Dublin.
2.
Mr. Kenny
I am satisfied that the facilities for cross-country running in the Phoenix Park are adequate.
How many local cross-country athletic clubs have been refused permission to act in the park in the last 12 months?
Mr. Kenny
Very few requests are received for permission to use the park for cross-country running. The Irish Businesshouses Cross-country Championships are held once a year. The majority of requests are for road races and no organisation has requested the Office of Public Works to extend the facilities mentioned by the Deputy.
3.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a comprehensive statement on his future plans for the Phoenix Park, Dublin, with regard to (a) the Ordnance Survey Office (b) St. Mary's Hospital (c) the Zoo (d) Ratra House (e) the Garda Depot (f) the Department of Defence (g) the park superintendent's large office and stores (h) the several park keepers' lodges (i) the Phoenix Park national school (j) the Magazine Fort (k) the proposal to site a new Cheshire Home within the grounds of St. Mary's Hospital (l) the proposal to site the Kennedy Memorial Concert Hall near the Citadel Pond (m) the US Ambassador's residence (n) Áras an Uachtaráin and (o) the Papal Nunciature and so on.
Mr. Kenny
It is proposed to replace the park superintendent's office and stores with new permanent quarters. No new plans have been made for any of the other properties mentioned.
It has been suggested to me that the Papal Nuncio is finding it very expensive to maintain his premises. Has the Parliamentary Secretary heard any suggestion that the Papal Nuncio would like to have his premises relocated elsewhere? If the Papal Nuncio wishes to do this will the Department assist him? In the event of the Papal Nuncio moving would the Parliamentary Secretary consider making this property the official residence of the Taoiseach of the day?
Mr. Kenny
I could not answer the latter part of the question but I can give the position regarding the building the Deputy asked about. With regard to the Nunciature the total acreage of this demesne is in the order of 55 acres. The bulk of this is not held by the Holy See. The property leased to the Holy See comprises an area of about nine acres. Most of the balance of the demesne is let to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for grazing purposes. That Department have sublet 11 acres or so to the Department of Defence for the grazing of horses of the Army Equitation School. I have no information about the specific building.
I have been informed of this but I do not know if it is true. I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he has any plans to extend the Zoo?
Mr. Kenny
The Dublin Zoo was established in 1831 when the Lord Lieutenant let the Zoological Society which had just been established have the use of a portion of the Phoenix Park then known as "The Garden". He let that for the purpose of what is known as a "menagerie"—it could be useful here also. The records of the Commissioners of Public Works did not disclose the actual area allocated to the society at that time but the Zoo has been extended on a number of occasions since and today occupies an area of about 30 acres. In 1971 the society made an application for a further extension. The area suggested comprised about nine acres and included the Band Hollow which in the past was popular with visitors to the park. The application was examined and a decision deferred pending the outcome of the amenity study of the park being undertaken by archaeological students of the College of Technology, Bolton Street. In their report the students indicated that there were three possible areas for expansion, into the Hollow, into the Polo Grounds and towards the fish pond in Áras an Uachtaráin. Apart from the general principle involved in allocation of any further areas of the park for exclusive use there are complex considerations of landscaping, screening, car parking and traffic diversions to be examined before a decision can be made in the matter. Because of general pressure of work it has not been possible to complete this examination to date.
The Parliamentary Secretary deserves a standing ovation for that.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary any indication if the President would be agreeable to an extension towards the fish pond?
Mr. Kenny
His predecessor was not.
I know that because I was in the Parliamentary Secretary's spot then.
Mr. Kenny
Presidential minds are rather complex.
4.
asked the Minister for Finance whether, in the interests of public safety, plans to phase out cattle grazing in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, have been drawn up.
Mr. Kenny
I do not consider that the safety of the public is endangered by the presence of cattle in the Phoenix Park. It is not intended to phase out cattle grazing in the park as it serves as a maintenance function.
Is it true that the fees received for cattle grazing in the park are not paid into the Office of Public Works for the purpose of further development of our park facilities? Do they go directly into the Exchequer?
Mr. Kenny
If the Deputy puts down a separate question about that matter I will give him the information he requires.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how much it would cost to keep the grass at a proper level if the cattle were phased out?
Mr. Kenny
It would cost something in the region of £500,000 per year. Then, of course, you would have to fertilise the place and put as much beef on the cattle's backs as they have, for nothing, in the Phoenix Park.
It might upset the balance of nature.
Mr. Kenny
It might.