Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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488. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Inland Waterways Ireland has announced that it plans to sell off the site of the graving dock in Ringsend, Dublin 4; if he will ensure that in the event of the sale proceeding that the price will not fall below the €20 million value that he has placed on the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17044/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Waterways Ireland is a navigation authority, responsible for the management, maintenance, development and promotion of over 1000 km of inland navigable waterways, principally for recreational purposes. It is the freehold owner of a site in Grand Canal Dock, known as City Block 19.

The City Block 19 site is designated within the North Lotts and Grand Canal SDZ for residential, commercial and community development. Waterways Ireland has not announced any plans to sell off the site. It is continuing to examine options including a potential disposal of the site. Should a disposal be progressed a minimum reserve price would be placed on the site reflecting a fair market value.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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489. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure financial support to develop the graving docks Ringsend, Dublin 4 as a heritage site and that could be used to develop apprenticeships on boat repair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17045/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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City Block 19 is designated within the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock Strategic Development Zone Planning Scheme (SDZ) to deliver a 40% residential, 30% commercial and 30% community, cultural and or/recreational development mix on the site. The site is identified as significant within the scheme for its 'unique setting, heritage value and potential for development that includes community uses.’

Furthermore, the Dublin Docklands Social Infrastructure Audit which was commissioned as part of the North Lotts & Grand Canal Dock Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) Planning Scheme to align the roll out of City Block development with social and community infrastructure needs recommended 'That provision be made for the development of a maritime museum or heritage centre in Dublin Docklands, considering feasibility, potential cross cutting measures with other heritage initiatives, and the wider development plans of Dublin Port.'

Cognisant of the heritage importance of the site, and in compliance with the requirements of the SDZ, Waterways Ireland commissioned a Conservation Report in 2018, which acknowledged that Waterways Ireland had already opened up two of the graving docks enhancing this culturally important site. It suggested that these remain open, and maintained, as part of any future development.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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490. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will request Dublin City Council to consider diverting some of the funds that had been earmarked for the white water rafting facility to developing a heritage site and amenity for the local community at the graving docks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17046/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I have no function in the matter raised. Local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities.

Under section 103 of the Local Government Act 2001 all budgetary decisions of local authorities are reserved functions of the elected members.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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491. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will commission a feasibility study to examine options for the future development of the graving docks Ringsend, Dublin 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17047/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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As owner of the site, Waterways Ireland has carried out a number of feasibility studies in relation to the potential development of City Block 19; seeking advice from property, legal and independent financial experts to consider options available and to carry out detailed cost benefit analyses to determine best use of site and best model for delivery. All considerations involve the conservation of the docks.

Any future development of the site will be carried out in accordance with the provisions set out in the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock SDZ planning scheme.