Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 523: To ask the Minister for Finance the purchase and resale arrangements in relation to a hotel (details supplied) in County Cork; the purchase price paid by the State and associated costs of purchase; the costs associated with the premises in the meantime including maintenance, repair, security and otherwise; and the net purchase price received on resale, taking into account the gross figure and the costs associated with the resale. [1248/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Commissioners of Public Works, acting on behalf of the reception and integration agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform purchased Lynch's Lodge Hotel, Macroom, County Cork, in October 2000 for €3,549,711. As the Chief State Solicitor's office dealt with the purchase there were no associated costs. The total security and other costs incurred on the property to date are €808,200. The property was sold for €2,300,010 on the 8 December 2005. The sale is due to close in early February 2006. The fee for the disposal of the property was €17,500 plus VAT at 21%. Advertising and other expenses associated with the sale are not yet available.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 524: To ask the Minister for Finance the cost to date of all the works carried out at Lacken Weir, Kilkenny; if the Office of Public Works will consult the anglers groups in Kilkenny relative to the work to be carried out in 2006; if the O'Sullivan report will be considered in the context of this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1310/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The costs to date of all the works carried out at Lacken Weir are as follows: contract costs of €212,727.00; costs of temporary measures, January 2005. The timber fabricated piece fitted to the fish pass at Lacken Weir, County, Kilkenny, was purchased and installed by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Southern Regional Fisheries Board. The Department has confirmed the cost of fabrication of the wooden structure as €7,350.30. Labour and other costs related to this work amounted to €12,115.88. As the timber extension was a temporary measure, the extension and timber baffles have been recovered and may be reused elsewhere. The cost of permanent works, summer 2005: the work to fit a concrete extension to the Denil fish pass and the installation of a second fish pass during summer 2005 were carried out as a single operation. The total cost was €60,077.11.

The cost of mitigation measures, December 2005: figures are not yet available for the recent mitigation measures undertaken by OPW and the SRFB. However, preliminary indications estimate OPW costs in the region of €5,000. The Chairman of the Office of Public Works has informed the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources that consultation will take place locally with all stakeholders in the course of the review currently being carried out by OPW together with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the southern regional fisheries board. The O'Sullivan report will be considered in this context.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 525: To ask the Minister for Finance if the health and safety issues raised by the River Nore users group and the canoe union relative to the newly constructed weir at Lacken, Maudlin Street, Kilkenny will be dealt with; if the canoe pass will be restored as part of the works to be completed in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1311/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As a result of a detailed consultation process between the local authorities and representatives of the various local water safety and water based sporting groups, all the appropriate provisions for safety deemed necessary are included in the finished scheme. A safety audit carried out by Irish Water Safety identified the alteration of Lacken Weir as creating a hazard for canoeists who may not be experienced in dealing with fast, white water and noted that the alteration includes the incorporation of a fish pass structure. The audit recommended that the appropriate authority should write to the Irish Canoe Union advising them of the changes to the weir. The OPW will do this now, and again upon completion of works at the weir.

As a additional safety feature, I have asked OPW to erect a sign warning of the presence of the fish pass, as soon as feasible. As a requirement for a canoe pass was not identified during the consultation process with the water based sporting groups, there are no plans to construct one.