Vol. 499 No. 1
940 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Science if a building (details supplied) at Howth Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3 has been surrendered to his Department; if his Department paid £75,000 in this regard; the procedure to be adopted in granting a new lease of the land and building; if he received a proposal from a com pany (details supplied) in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1370/99]
The process of acquiring repossession of the premises at Howth Road, Clontarf, is now in its final stages. On 14 December 1998 the High Court consented to the surrender by the company of the premises to me as Minister. Formal written notification of the surrender of the property is expected by the Chief State Solicitor from solicitors acting for the official liquidator and I expect to have full vacant possession within a very short time. In order to achieve possession of the property within a reasonable period of time, my Department acting on the advice of the Chief State Solicitor and counsel, agreed to pay the sum of £75,000 to the liquidator in satisfaction of any and all outstanding claims on the property by the company, receiver or liquidator. A sum of £10,300 will be withheld from this amount for the purpose of discharging any outstanding rates on the premises.
In granting a new lease of the premises my Department will follow normal Government procedures which will involve seeking tenders. While my Department has received approaches from parties interested in the property no formal proposals have been received. Should such proposals be received they would be considered only if submitted as part of the normal tendering process.
