Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if consent will be granted to Galway County Council to sublease foreshore (details supplied) in the ownership of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to facilitate the development of a public park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30334/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Galway County Council has written to my Department seeking consent to construct facilities related to the Clifden Sewerage Scheme on lands which were created by the reclamation of an area of foreshore. My Department has established that ownership of the lands in question was transferred from the Minister for Finance to the Minister for Communications in 1981. The Minister for Communications subsequently leased the lands to Galway County Council in 1985 under Section 10(2) of the State Property Act, 1954.

The information supplied with the question suggests that the Council also proposes to sublease a portion of what appears to be the same lands to the Clifden District and Community Council for the construction of a public amenity park. This is new information which was not included in the Council's correspondence with my Department. Clarity is required on the current ownership of the lands concerned in order to establish which Minister is the consenting authority in respect of the application by the Council. To that end my Department has sought advice from the Chief State Solicitor's Office. When the advice of that Office is received my Department will advise the Council on the appropriate next steps in the process.