8 November 2006

Environment

Parks Held on Long-term Leases

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department will request all local authorities to produce comprehensive lists of all parks and green spaces that are held on long-term leases and dates when these leases end, and draw up a plan for the way such situations should be dealt with by local authorities in view of recent incidents in Dartmouth Square, Dublin and Mallow; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche):
 

Section 67 and Schedule 13 of the Local Government Act, 2001 empower local authorities to take such measures, engage in such activities or do such things as they consider necessary to promote the interests of the local community. This includes general recreational and leisure activities such as the provision of parks, gardens and open spaces whether by the leasing of land or otherwise. I have no proposals to issue directions to local authorities regarding the discharge of their discretionary functions.