asked the Minister for the Environment if he will intervene to prevent building work at the junction of Briarfield Road, Kilbarrack, and Foxfield Grove, Raheny, Dublin, which would deny residents of the Briarfield Road area ready access to essential services in Raheny.

I understand from Dublin Corporation that in 1972 planning permission was refused for the erection of a two storey dwelling on this site which is situated between 211 and 212 Foxfield Grove. An appeal was lodged against that decision and on 16 May 1974 permission was granted for the development subject to three conditions. A valid planning permission exists for the development of this site and in the circumstances there is no action I can take in the matter.

I apologise to the Minister for asking him to involve himself in what appears to be a trivial matter. In fact, although it is quite small the implications are quite large. Could the Minister ask that the access from one side of the estate to the other be left after this house is built? I am sure he appreciates the difficulties of old people, mothers and school children. This will cause very great inconvenience. A very small pedestrian passageway would overcome the difficulties. Would the Minister not try to intervene in this matter?

As I said in my reply, full planning permission exists and at the time of the old hearing under the appeal the residents association were in favour of this development. The chairman and secretary of the residents association appeared at the old hearing and were in favour of this.

I think the Minister is misinformed. The residents association were in favour of this development on condition that pedestrian access was permitted.

We cannot have a discussion on it now.

Is the Minister confusing the permission to build the house on condition that the pedestrian access was left? Is there any reference to that in the Minister's brief?

No, there is not.

In the circumstances, would the Minister refer the matter back to the corporation? A very simple and small alteration in the present plan would create convenience for the local people involved.

The Deputy should appreciate that this is something the applicants would negotiate about.

They tried to. The only reason this relatively small matter is being brought to the Minister's attention is because everything else has failed.

We cannot have a discussion. This is a bad precedent. If we were to have a discussion on every planning application we would get nowhere.

All I can tell the Deputy is that I will have a look at the matter. I do not know if I can intervene, but at least I will take a look at it.