Seanad debates

Wednesday, 3 December 2003

Order of Business. - Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

Until now, Údarás na Gaeltachta has developed airstrips on the three Aran Islands. As proposed in the Cranfield report, I want to develop further airstrips, initially on Inisbofin and Tory Island. To do that, I need the powers I am seeking in the Bill. In basic terms, the legislation will give me the power to purchase land, including, where necessary by compulsory purchase, for an aerodrome and to run that aerodrome. Much of the land will be purchased through what are termed "friendly CPOs" because a great deal of it is owned in commonage and there will, on occasion, be difficulty in establishing title. It would lead to inordinate delays if we had to seek titles for every person. The land will be bought by agreement, in so far as possible, but we need, on a technical level, the power to take out CPOs, subject to all the normal protections that exist. We will be given the power, under the Bill, to delegate the operation of these services to a county council or another statutory agency such as, for example, Údarás na Gaeltachta.

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