Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will consider a transfer of ownership of a building (details supplied) from the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for use by the council as a new library headquarters [13715/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This relates to the transfer of ownership of a building called Harbour Square on Crofton Road in Dún Laoghaire from Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for use as a new library headquarters. I am not aware of any such proposal. The company is currently doing a public consultation on a future master plan for the harbour. The master plan will help ensure all the property owned by the company is put to optimum usage into the future. Under section 15 of the Harbours Act 1996, decisions by the harbour company relating to the acquisition or disposal of land or buildings, either by sale or by lease, shall only be made by the company board.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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We probably do not have time to go into this proposal in detail but following the Minister's earlier comments about developing our ports and harbours and the need for tourism and jobs flowing from it, I ask him to consider seriously this proposal, which would ensure better deployment of existing resources to the benefit of tourism, the port and Dún Laoghaire generally. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council recently passed a capital budget of which I believe the Minister must approve before going through. That is my understanding but that can be checked.

The capital budget includes one of the flagship projects of €35 million for a library headquarters in Moran Park, which is near the harbour. This proposal is that we do not need to spend €35 million on a new library headquarters as there is an empty building owned by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company nearby in public ownership and which could be used for far lesser cost for this purpose. The money which would then be available could be used to develop the Carlisle Pier project in Dún Laoghaire, containing a diaspora museum which could provide a significant boost to the area. The harbour and heritage facilities would be developed and tourism would be boosted. It would be a little like the Titanic proposals. The money could also be made available for developing Moran Park as a central park and redeveloping the Dún Laoghaire baths, for which very little money has been allocated despite significant public demand.

Will the Minister consider this as a better way to spend €35 million? Will he use his influence to bring about joined-up thinking on the matter?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As far as I understand it, the €35 million capital programme in the county council would be approved by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government rather than me, unless it relates in particular to tourism. From the information we have the council is proposing to build its own library headquarters in Moran Park, which is adjacent to the Royal Marine Hotel. That is the council proposal and the port has not been asked to provide the office block as a library. If the council were to approach the board of the port or me, we could give full consideration to the matter.

Ultimately, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is responsible for providing the library and it is up to its democratically elected councillors to decide where they want it to be located. If they want to approach the port company through me, I would be happy to arrange a discussion. The council has its own plans for the library.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is making a mistake. I am for local democracy but an argument can sometimes be made for better use of resources. We could get three amenities for the price of one because an empty building which is in State ownership could be used for a library headquarters, thereby freeing up €35 million to develop the amenities which have been strenuously demanded by local people. It would represent value for money as well as providing a significant economic boost. I ask the Minister to exert his influence on his colleagues in the Labour Party and Fine Gael who form the majority on the council to reconsider a potential waste of money.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I have investigated the matter to the extent that I am aware of two aspects of it. First, a democratically elected council has decided it wants to locate the library elsewhere and, second, even though part of this commercial building may be vacant it is already leased on commercial terms and is subject to a property agreement.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is empty.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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It may well be empty but it is leased on commercial terms and that lease would have to be bought out. I am not going to interfere with local governance. I believe in local government and it is the right of the elected councillors to decide where they want to locate their library and how they intend to pay for it.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What about value for money?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should raise it with the council. He is the local Deputy.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Is the Minister not worried about how it spends its money?