Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I want to put on the record that in July last Deputy O'Keeffe announced that five acres, which was part of the farm at Thornton Hall that was kept back by the owner because it had planning permission potential, had a value of €1 million per acre. However, later in this House, his party, not himself, said the remaining 150 acres had a total value of €6 million. It is an interesting proposition that five acres was worth €1 million while 150 acres was worth €6 million. I do not accept these figures.

Deputy Costello implied that the project is not going ahead but I want to make it clear that it is going ahead. The land is suitable for the construction of a prison which will be built. It is political play-acting on the part of Deputy Costello who tried to send in Dublin City Council to prevent Mountjoy being redeveloped on historical grounds and some of his allies are now sending in Fingal County Council officials to try to preserve the land because of its historical and archaeological significance. A full survey is being carried out by the State on the land in question. All the requisite expertise will be deployed and the prison will be built on the site.

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