21st May 2001

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY CALLS ON COUNCIL TO RESTORE BLACKROCK BATHS  

The Green Party has accused  Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council of being a bad tenant with  Blackrock Baths, and has called on the Council to fund their restoration.

The Baths are owned by the property firm Treasury Holdings, and are held on a long lease by the Council.

“It is a disgrace that the baths are vacant and derelict at the start of another Summer” stated Green Party Dáil Candidate Ciarán Cuffe. “The Council is acting like a bad tenant.

“Dublin Corporation is spending £200 million cleaning up the water in Dublin Bay. The time is now ripe for all the Baths around Dublin and Dun Laoghaire from Clontarf to Bray to be restored. Already the waters around Dalkey Island are much cleaner. I am calling on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council to play its part and restore the Baths.

“The income from a restored Baths would go a long way towards meeting the running costs of such a project. Why isn’t the Council accessing European Funds for the project and making good use of this fantastic resource?

“The Project could house a 50m pool, a children’s pool and a café. Perhaps it is now time for the Landlord Treasury Holdings to enforce the repair clauses in the lease between themselves and the Council.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe     677 3372   or   087 265 2075