Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Properties.

Michael Joe Cosgrave

Ceist:

803 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the intention to sell off part of the school playground in Scoil Eoin, Kilbarrack, Dublin 9; if his attention has further been drawn to the widespread dissatisfaction among parents, teachers and the community; his views on this sale; if his Department has been consulted on the matter; if there is agreement in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17232/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

In November 1996, the St. Laurence O'Toole Diocesan Trust, which has legal ownership of the site, applied to this Department to have a portion of the school site formally devested as they wished to sell it to the local authority for social housing development. My Department agreed to the request having established that the portion of the ground in question was in excess of that required for the number of pupils in the school.

The matter of the sale of part of the school site at Scoil Eoin, Kilbarrack was again brought to my Department's attention earlier this summer. As my Department is not the legal owner of the site there can be no question of intervening to prevent the sale of this land.