Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 26 Oct 1995

Vol. 457 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - Ballina (Mayo) Wood.

Dr. Moffatt

Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for the opportunity to raise this important issue on the Adjournment and the Minister for coming in to reply. I ask the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to ensure the retention of Beleek Wood, Ballina, as a public amenity. In particular, I wish to refer to the proposed sale by public auction of an area of three acres, known locally as the wooded area at the black gates on the Killala Road, Ballina.

Belleek Wood is one of the finest scenic amenity areas in the west. It comprises a wooded area of over 100 acres, a small lake pound, a fine castle hotel, nature walks, ancient monuments, flora and fauna indigenous to the area and the River Moy famous here and internationally as a salmon river, which runs beside and along the wooded area. The wood is a major tourist attraction and environmentally it is the jewel in the crown of Ballina. Ballina hosts part of the Department of the Environment which is within a stone's throw of the wood.

The local Community of the Killala Road have spent up to £50,000 in improving the area with flowers, shrubs, plants, footpaths and lighting. A local man has developed a caravan and camping site nearby which is up to international standards. There is also good housing in the area.

For the above reasons the local community do not want this property, which is owned by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, sold to accommodate a halting site as the area is totally inappropriate for such a purpose. Negotiations on a sale for the purpose of a halting site have taken place. We have now learned that this proposal has been stopped and that the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry say that the only fair way to dispose of the property is to put it up for public auction.

Why should the local community or the people of Ballina have to buy back their own wood? They are taxpayers and entitled to every consideration in regard to its disposal. Public auction may result in the property falling into the wrong hands and destroying the total potential of this area. Both I and the people of Ballina want this property transferred to the local community to help Ballina attain its full tourist potential. There is a precedent in other parts of the country for such an arrangement. In view of what I have said I hope the Minister will desist from the route he is taking in regard to public auction of this area.

Mr. Yates

I am pleased to have the opportunity to deal with this issue on the Adjournment. My colleague, Deputy Ring, and my ministerial colleagues, Deputies Higgins and Kenny, have been in touch with me about this issue. In fact, Deputy Moffatt gave a handwritten letter on this topic.

It is true that my Department was proposing, through the forestry service, to sell by private treaty this parcel of land to Mayo County Council. I was asked by Deputy Moffatt and others to allow open competition so that other parties would have an opportunity to bid. I discussed the matter with my officials and said, as a principle, it should be sold by open competition and that is what has been decided. The fairest and the best way to allow the local community to know what is happening is by means of public auction.

It is a bit much to blame the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry for the decision in regard to a halting site. It is a matter for the county manager, the housing staff and the members of Mayo County Council, not the forestry service. We have no function in relation to the provision of halting sites and it is wrong to try in any way——

Dr. Moffatt

The Minister is not addressing the issue.

Mr. Yates

I am coming to that issue.

Dr. Moffatt

The Minister should be fair.

Mr. Yates

Whatever use is made of this land by the local authority is not a matter for me. I have no function in relation to it.

Dr. Moffatt

The Minister can include a proviso that the land should only be sold for a certain purpose.

Mr. Yates

I want to deal with that. The site in question is approximately 5.5 acres or 2.3 hectares of woodland one mile north of Ballina on the Killala road. It is zoned agricultural in the 1992 Ballina UDC development plan. This site is one of a large number being disposed of by the Department over time. Most forestry properties were transferred to Coillte Teoranta in 1989. Only those without any operational forestry value or perceived developmental potential were retained in State ownership. The intention at all times is that they should be disposed of because they are of no economic worth to my Department. Our primary business is to develop a forestry service. The Department is now embarked on a programme to sell all of these sites.

I have no role in relation to amenity or recreation. As was stated in reply to Deputy Ring last Tuesday, this site is to be sold by public auction. My Department has an obligation to maintain the maximum price and it would be wrong of me to impose conditions that would affect the sale price. If there is a need to delay the auction to allow people do whatever is necessary it will not be rushed by me or by the forestry service. However, I cannot depart from the normal procedures.

I am aware of the controversy which has centred on the site in recent weeks. I do not wish to appear to be insensitive to any of the views expressed by a variety of people at local level but it is most important that Deputies, the general public and people in Ballina clearly understand my role and functions in the matter as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

There is no longer any rationale for such sites remaining in the ownership of the Department or the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry. I expect the necessary arrangements for the public auction to be made in the near future. This approach is consistent with my desire to ensure the best obtainable price is secured in any public disposal of State assets.

The Deputy suggested the retention of the property as a public amenity solely for tourism and recreational purposes but I am sure he will accept that as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry I do not have a function in such matters. I would be most reluctant to impose any conditions on the sale of property which might adversely affect the prospects of the sale or the proceeds, nor can I predict the outcome of the public auction in terms of the identity or intentions of any party which might purchase the property. Suffice to say there have been expressions of interest on behalf of a number of parties, including Ballina Urban District Council, in recent years. The property was offered for sale by public tender in 1991 but the outcome of that process was not regarded as satisfactory. It is clear, therefore, that for some time we had indicated that we intended to sell the property. With regard to prospective purchasers, circumstances and the market may have changed over the intervening period and it is not unreasonable to offer the property again for sale.

In the event of the site being purchased by the local authority or any other party, it will be a matter for that party, not for me as Minister, to determine the use to which it is put having regard to the proper planning and other requirements. At the risk of stating the obvious, it is entirely a matter for Ballina Urban District Council or any other party to determine whether to make a bid for the property at the auction.

I assure the Deputy that my approach to this matter is simple and above board. As and when arrangements can be made I am disposing of all forestry properties retained in State ownership on the establishment of Coillte Teoranta, including all the residual land. In this instance, as in others, I have adopted the approach of offering the property for sale by public auction, that being a manifestly transparent means of disposal. My actions are governed by a desire to secure the best obtainable price for the property and in this context, as in others, I would be most reluctant to contemplate attaching any conditions of sale which might adversely affect either the prospects or proceeds of the sale.

I do not have a function in relation to the management of the site as a tourist or recreational amenity, nor can I predict the identity or intentions of any party which might buy it at public auction. It would be a matter for the purchaser to determine, in accordance with proper planning and other requirements, the use to which the site is put and I am sure that would apply in the case of Ballina Urban District Council as in the case of any other prospective purchaser.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 November 1995.