Vol. 401 No. 4
96 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the history and the difficulties regarding the transfer of title of lands at the Old Coach Road, Balrothery, County Dublin to Dublin County Council; and given the urgency of the matter, if he will expedite same.
In June 1987 Dublin County Council sought that the State assume liability for a derelict property in Balrothery, Balbriggan, County Dublin to which the Deputy's question refers and have the property restored to a non-derelict condition as soon as possible. The council maintained that the property was vested in the State under the terms of the State Property Act, 1954, by virtue of the dissolution of a company which was the registered owner of the property.
My Department referred the matter to the Chief State Solicitor's Office which carried out investigations of the title held by the registered owners. The Chief State Solicitor then asked Dublin County Council in July 1987 if it was interested in acquiring the site. The council confirmed in February 1989 that it was so interested
Prior to the council's reply, however, a general review of the precise legal implications for the State of certain relevant sections of the State Property Act, 1954, was initiated. This review is at present nearing completion. When it is completed, I shall arrange for my Department to give the case at Balrothery, and a number of similar cases also on hand, urgent attention. The review, I should stress, is of a general nature, it was not related to, or instigated by, any of the specific cases on hand.
