I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 13, 24, 27, 36, 48, 58, 60, 74, 79, 85, 181, 182, 194, 195, 196 and 197 together.
In the course of my speech in this House on 18 October 1991, on the Motion of Confidence in the Government I made an extensive and detailed statement on the whole Carysfort issue with particular reference to the purchase of the property by UCD. I refer Deputies to this statement in which I put on record the position in relation to many of the issues raised in these questions. Further to that statement I wish to reiterate that in the process leading to the purchase of Carysfort by UCD no meetings, correspondence, agreements or contacts of any kind took place between myself or my officials and the vendors or their agents. All such contacts were made by the UCD authorities.
In late October 1989, my Department were approached by the agent for the new owner who it subsequently transpired were Davmac Developments Limited to explore our interest in any future use of Carysfort College. This approach resulted in an offer for sale on behalf of the new owners on 28 February 1990 of the Carysfort premises and 20 acres of land for £8.25 million.
To my knowledge the only involvement by the Taoiseach in the sale of the property to UCD was the meeting of 12 December 1990 which I referred to in my statement and a telephone conversation of 21 December 1990 with Dr. Masterson, President of UCD, which he refers to in his statement of 8 October 1991. In the course of this statement Dr. Masterson confirms that this was the only meeting he had with the Taoiseach and this was also attended by the chairman of the Graduate Business School and myself. The £9.7 million voted by the Dáil as a supplementary estimate on 18 December 1990 was made available, in the normal way, to the Higher Education Authority. I understand that no fees were paid by UCD to any estate agents in connection with the purchase of the property.
Suggestions were made that my Department should purchase Carysfort. This suggestion was not feasible since my Department does not operate third level colleges. A further consideration was that unless a definite use for the premises had been established before its acquisition substantial maintenance costs would have arisen. The suitability of the premises for use as a regional technical college was considered. A detailed study carried out by technical officers of my Department made it clear that it was not suitable for this purpose. Its use for the Business Graduate School was not in question at that time in view of the plans to develop it at Roebuck.
As the President of UCD noted in his recent statement the situation changed in 1990 when financial problems arose regarding the development of the business school on the Roebuck site. The possibility thus presented itself for the first time that the Government's policy on expanding third level places and UCD development plans for its business school could coincide.
I met with representatives of UCD in early September 1990. In a number of further meetings over a short period of time it became clear to me and to the UCD authorities that up to 600 additional undergraduate student places could be provided at the Belfield campus if UCD could secure Carysfort for this Graduate Business School.
I indicated that UCD should pursue the possibility of acquiring Carysfort and that the Government for their part would be open to consider any proposal which might subsequently arise. A formal proposal was made to me on 29 November, 1990 in a letter from the Secretary of UCD.
