Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 64:

In page 78, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following:
“53. Section 183(1) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (b):“(b) at the first meeting of the local authority held after the expiration of 10 days after the day on which such notices are sent or delivered, the local authority may resolve (by a majority of its members present and voting, including a majority of those members present and voting who were elected in the municipal district where the land is situate) that the disposal shall not be carried out or that it shall be carried out in accordance with terms specified in the resolution;”.”.

While the Minister knows what I intend to say in this regard, I am trying to resolve the situation I perceive to be arising in Kells, County Meath and which potentially may arise elsewhere. At present, town councils have control over land and in the case of Kells, it comprises nearly 350 acres. There is great sentimental attachment to that land in Kells and the people of the town believe the land belongs to them. The amendment seeks, in general terms, to amend section 183 of the 2001 Act to ensure that if land is being sold by a local authority, not only would a majority of the members of the local authority support that resolution, as is required at present, but that within that majority, there would be a majority of members from the municipal district in which the land is situate.

That is as far as I can go in my proposal but I state further to the Minister that I understand members of Kells Town Council have asked to meet him. I urge him to accede to the request, because there are other things that could be done in respect of this particular landbank. It is not really a landbank and actually is known as the farm or lands of Lloyd and, in the main, is operating as a farm. It generates an income for the town, there are allotments there, as well as a tourism area. People on the streets of Kells will tell one they grew their own potatoes there years ago in an arrangement now referred to as using allotments. Is the Minister minded to consider this and perhaps examine the particular case, if a request is made by the council? I have spoken to some of the Minister's own party colleagues and they are in agreement. I hope I have adopted a constructive approach in this regard to try to get some resolution to the issue.