Vol. 398 No. 10
85 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Office of Public Works propose to cut down trees behind 17-18 and 19 Harcourt Terrace and to change the current land use to a carpark for civil servants; if he has consulted with the Minister for Energy, the Minister for the Environment and Dublin Corporation in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The ongoing rationalisation of the State's office accommodation needs involves the surrender of leasehold interests, including a large number of car parking facilities, in certain Dublin properties. This has created a need to provide replacement car-parking facilities, particularly for staff required to use their private cars in the course of their official duties. As an alternative to the expenditure of substantial sums on renting privately owned car parking facilities, areas of State owned property such as the plot of ground to the rear of 17-19 Harcourt Terrace, where the required car parking facilities might be provided, were examined.
While no process of consultation was statutorily required, the Office of Public Works approached the adjoining residents to advise them of proposed developments. These include the replacement of a number of existing sycamores by semi mature trees around the perimeter walls. The maximum number of other existing sycamores consistent with the use of the area as a car park will be retained.
Consultations are in progress with Dublin Corporation and the Minister for State at the Department of the Environment. The Minister for Energy has not been consulted.
