Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Finance when a lease or contract between the Office of Public Works and Ireland's Children's Museum was laid before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33927/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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It is not the practice to lay leases or property contracts before the Dáil.

As the 'community gain' element of a large and complex planning application for the development of State Lands at Military Road, Kilmainham, the OPW agreed to lease a building on the development to the charitable body known as the Irish Children's Museum for them to operate a science-based educational facility for children in accordance with the government's policy of encouraging children to study science subjects.

The proposed activities in the building would be governed by lease clauses agreed with the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

Partly as a result of this innovative 'community gain' offer, OPW was granted permission for a large mixed development on the site which will add value to the land and greatly contribute to the transformation of the Kilmainham/Heuston area in accordance with Dublin City Council's Heuston Area Framework Plan.