David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have received a communication from a very distinguished former Member of the House, Sean Barrett, whom we all remember with admiration and affection. He is very concerned about something that is happening and that perhaps does not have a direct bearing on the business of the House, but I think he has found a link. It is apparently proposed to destroy a notable beautiful green space in the heart of the city of Dublin. We are very lucky to have the likes of St. Stephen's Green, Merrion Square, Mountjoy Square and so on, but green space is at a premium in this city. Apparently, the authorities in Trinity College intend to develop on College Park. They intend to dig it up. A notable historic green space in the centre of Dublin, it is proposed by the college to be the temporary - question mark - location for a gallery and souvenir shop. These things have a habit of getting lodged in and then becoming permanent by accretion. The gallery and shop are supposed to be in place for three years while the Long Room is refitted. However, this business in College Park was never mentioned once at the fellows' meetings at which the Long Room project was discussed. It seems extraordinary it was left out of those discussions. It seems to have been a last-minute addition after a Government grant was secured.

I would like to know whether the Government was told that digging up College Park was part of the deal. This is a political angle, but did the Green Party support digging up College Park? Could the Comptroller and Auditor General investigate before the bulldozers move in? Is this another case of understating the cost of a project, getting it going and then saying, "Oh, it is too late to stop it now as there will be a huge overrun", as with the children's hospital? Could the Government lodge papers in the House stating what precisely it is funding? Was the loss of College Park a later add-on? We in this House are entitled to answers to these questions.