Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the situation in which Ballina Town Council are disposing of lands to private housing developers when people in the town of Ballina, County Mayo are on housing lists and a pre-school (details supplied) is seeking a site for a community playschool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23340/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Ballina Town Council have a 15 acre site at Ard Na Rí which they are currently developing. In 2005, the Town Council completed construction of 71 local authority and voluntary houses on almost 9 acres of the site, availing of capital funding provided by my Department.

It is understood from the Town Council that, in order to provide varied tenure types in the development, the Council advertised for expressions of interest from developers to provide private housing on a 2.6 acre portion of the site in 2005. While the Council did not receive any replies to this request, they are still pursuing this course of action which, I understand, has the support of the elected members of the Council.

It is the intention of the Council to provide sporting and community facilities on the balance of the site. The Council are also in discussions with the Ard Na Rí Community Pre-school Group with a view to providing a suitable site in the development for a playschool.