Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I refer to the opening paragraph of the judgment by Mr. Justice Charlton delivered on 5 July 2012 in the case of Durkan New Homes v. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. That paragraph states that in 2006 the site on Harcourt Terrace comprising the film censor's office and the Garda station on 0.87 of an acre was valued at €17.7 million. That was at the height of the boom. The judge goes on to say in the opening paragraph that in 2008 it was worth €9.6 million, in 2010 it was worth €3.8 million, it was worth €3 million in 2011 and by the day he issued his judgment it was valued at €2.8 million. At best, the value according to the High Court judge was €17.7 million. How did the Department end up having to give Durkan New Homes €31 million for something that the judge says was only worth €17 million at the height of the boom? Will the witness explain that?