asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends acceding to the request of the community and environment department of Dublin Corporation for the compulsory acquisition of a derelict site known as the "swamp" at Grattan Crescent, Inchicore, Dublin.

I am advised that the site cannot be reasonably regarded as a derelict site within the sense of the Derelict Sites Act. It has been conveyed to the corporation, accordingly, that it would be more appropriate to proceed for acquisition of the site, if this is felt to be necessary and justified, by way of the compulsory purchase order procedure.

Has the Minister made a final decision not to sanction compulsory acquisition of it under the Derelict Sites Act, 1961? Has that decision been made?

The decision was made 18 months ago and the corporation applied again. My advice is that there is no reason to consider the original decision as wrong.

That is what I am asking, because it is the second time the corporation have appealed to the Minister. Has he now made a firm decision not to proceed?

Yes, and the corporation have been advised that it would be more appropriate to proceed under the CPO procedure.

Does the Minister agree that this will take several more years? This site is in a very bad condition; it has been there for years and the people in the area are very annoyed that this is not being brought to a conclusion.

I appreciate what the Deputy is saying, but regard must be had to the law relating to derelict sites as it is written into the Derelict Sites Act which provides protections for the owners of sites and the method of acquiring those sites. I am advised that this site could not fall to be acquired under the Derelict Sites Act, 1961 and a more appropriate way would be by CPO.

Is the Minister aware that the owner of this site has demolished a house recently without authority to do so and that he is causing untold annoyance and trouble in the area?

I am not so aware, but if a person broke the law by demolishing a house there are procedures which could be adopted. That situation is separate from this.