Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 362: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the use of compulsory purchase orders powers has increased since the advice of the Minister for Finance to Departments on this matter in 2005; the details of the increase; if she has secured faster release of lands and a more cost effective price for all forms of public infrastructure; and the savings secured. [6130/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department does not have the authority to use compulsory purchase orders in relation to matters arising from site acquisitions. The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally. In certain circumstances local authorities also acquire sites on behalf of my Department. The use of compulsory purchase procedures can be quite protracted and it would not necessarily mean the faster acquisition of sites. Neither would compulsory purchase orders mean the acquisition of sites at a price below market value. Where no alternative course of action exists, my Department may ask that CPOs be used.