asked the Minister for the Environment the reasons for the delay of several years in the transfer of land between Dublin Corporation and the Eastern Health Board at the Griffith Avenue extension, Dublin, and if he will expedite the matter as one of urgency.

I presume that the Deputy is referring to the land at St. Clare's Hospital, Ballymun.

On 13 February 1978 my Department approved a proposal from Dublin Corporation to transfer various sites to the Eastern Health Board in exchange for this land. The completion of this transaction is entirely a matter between the corporation and the health board.

Would the Minister agree that this relatively small transaction has taken an abnormal length of time to be concluded?

Yes. It is a matter between the two bodies concerned.

Further, would he agree with the current opinion expressed by the people in the locality that it has taken longer than all the legal implications of our accession into the EEC?

Probably it has, but the exchange was approved by me on 13 February 1978 and, as I have said, it is a matter for the two bodies. I understand from the corporation that this delay in completing the transaction is due to the legal difficulties as the relevant documents are with the corporation's lawyers and the solicitor for the health board.

Would the Minister use the few remaining days that he will be in the Department of the Environment to use his good offices to expedite——

I recommend that the Deputy as a member of the health board or the corporation, whichever he represents——

Both.

——that he, being the client of the solicitors in both cases put the skids under the two solicitors.