James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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126. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 119 of 19 May 2016, the current status of the situation at a location (details supplied), where an unfinished shopping centre has been the subject of protracted hearings involving the council, the National Asset Management Agency and other third parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20214/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As I indicated in replies to previous Parliamentary Questions tabled on this matter, the management of the development concerned is primarily a matter for Kildare County Council in the first instance, and I have no function in the matter.

However, I understand from Kildare County Council that the securing of a satisfactory conclusion to the development of the site in question has been a particular focus of the Council’s efforts over the last number of years. On foot of arbitration procedures, Kildare County Council recently successfully completed an agreement with one of two site owners, relating to the provision of roads infrastructure to service the town centre site. The arbitration case relating to the second site owner remains to be heard by the Property Arbitrator, the hearing of which is not scheduled to take place until April 2017, due to the Property Arbitrator’s caseload. In parallel with these arbitration cases, the Council has also been involved in ongoing discussions with the owner of the town centre site, and his agents, with a view to advancing development of the site as early as possible.

With relevant processes underway involving NAMA and arbitration, it would be inappropriate for me as Minister to become involved or make any further comment on the matter.