Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 2

Written Answers. - Compulsory Purchase Orders.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

120 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the date he received an application for a compulsory purchase order from Castlebar Urban District Council, County Mayo, for properties at Castle Street, Castlebar; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these properties have been included on the register of derelict buildings; the reason the compulsory purchase order has not been confirmed; if he will confirm the compulsory purchase order in view of the urgency of the matter and the danger to public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2127/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Castlebar Urban District Council submitted an application on 25 November 1997 under the Derelict Sites Act, 1990 for my consent to the compulsory acquisition of sites at Castle Street, Castlebar. I refused consent to the acquisition of one of the sites on 15 June 1999 on the grounds that my Department's inspector reported that the property was not derelict. The reason why the application on the remaining sites was not decided within the normal period related to the fact that initially there had been a planning application for development of the site. Later, contacts between my Department and Castlebar Urban District Council indicated that a decision should be deferred pending the outcome of pre-planning discussions which the council was conducting in relation to the site. On 17 January 2000 the urban district council informed my Department that no planning application had been received following the pre-planning discussions and that if the Minister's consent is granted they will proceed to acquire the properties to render them non-derelict. In these circumstances, I will give my decision on the matter shortly.