Papers of James Meenan – Move of UCD to Belfield

58 U.C.D. and the Future

on the old houses at Stillorgan Road amounted to 'about £150,000' (Brochure p. 20). The work was carried out notwithstanding the Government Commission's recommendation to the contrary (Report pp. 43 & 45). What a pity that this money was not spent towards a permanent solution on the present site. Meanwhile, the Harcourt Street Station site (4.3 acres) changed hands for £67,5000.

Other significant developments since June, 1958.

A number of other events of significance have occurred since the Commission made its recommendation in respect of U.C.D. in June, 1958. In our view these strengthened the case against the Stillorgan project. The majority of these events have been dealt with already, but for convenience we list them below:--

1. The agreement reached by the College with the St. Laurence Hospital group raises the total number of 'affiliated' general hospital beds on the north side of the city to near 800, in contrast to the 190 affiliated beds on the south side. We understand that there may be some difficulty in implementing this agreement to the full, but this does not alter the relative numbers of beds available to U.C.D. students on the north and south sides. This situation, together with the abandonment of the Clinical Institute and the considerable doubt that appears to exist in regard to the erection of a new hospital at Elm Park, makes the idea of a Medical school on the Stillorgan Road a very dubious one.

2. Several other city hospitals have decided to expand on our near their present sites within the central city area, e.g. the Coombe Hospital, the Dental Hospital, the St. Laurence group and the Mater Hospital. Further, we understand that there is thought to be a need for a second dental hospital in Dublin that one is being planned in conjunction with the Mater extension.

3. In the case of Veterinary education it has been agreed that the two schools (U.C.D. and Trinity) shall share the same buildings and equipment provided by the Government.

4. Plans for the development of the Institutes of Technology are proceeding and it has been announced that they may be granted powers of conferring diplomas with the status of university degrees.

5. The demand for a university college at Limerick is growing.

6. Comhlucht Siuicre Eireann has acquired and cleared a very useful site with a frontage on Earlsfort Terrace.

7. 'The Lawn', Peter's Place, previously declared to be unsuitable for College purposes has been found suitable for the needs of the Incorporated Dental Hospital, which has purchased the site.

8. The Harcourt Street Station site and the C.I.E. property to the south of Adelaide Road have become available for development. The railway line which formerly bisected the block to the south of Adelaide Road now no longer exists, and this fact radically improves the possibilities of this area: the area from Harcourt Terrace to Charlemont Street can now be planned as a continuous whole.

9. The area between the railway viaduct and Charlemont Street is in fact to be acquired by Dublin Corporation by compulsory purchase for demolition in the near future. This could make a further 3.6 acres available. The area to the west of

Postscript 59

Charlemont Street. is also to be similarly acquired. These two areas, if both were needed by the College, would add a further 9.9 acres to the 23 acres shaded on our map.

10. It has recently been reported that a detailed study is being made of the various State departments to see what sections could be transferred to provincial centres. It has been indicated that sections of the Department of Social Welfare, of the Land Commission, and of the Department of the Gaeltacht might be moved out. A decision has already been taken to move part of the Department of Lands. This development is of significance in relation to our discussion in Section II of the possibility of utilising Government offices or their sites for university purposes.

The events that have taken place since the Commission made its recommendations on U.C.D. have so altered the position that the Commission's conclusions must be re-examined. We suggest that had these events occurred earlier their cumulative effect, together with all the other considerations indicating the necessity of retaining the College in the city centre, might well have led the Commission to decide against the projected move.

Envoi

We consider that the extent of the sites in the vicinity of the College which could be acquired without undue difficulty in the near future, and the further areas which could be obtained over a longer period, completely disposes of the argument that the College cannot possibly expand from its present site. The argument from necessity does not stand.

There remains only the question of the possible desirability of the proposed move. This is a matter of opinion, and in this regard we firmly hold to the belief that it is better for the College, the City and the community that U.C.D. remain, expand and become more fully integrated into the cultural and educational complex which we have discussed in the Memorandum.

We want to emphasise that what is at stake in the controversy which has arisen is not merely the provision of teaching space for U.C.D., but the whole future of the College, the pattern of higher education in Dublin and the fate of a most important area of our Capital. If the Belfield project is begun and not completed a most unfortunate separation of faculties would result. If the whole of the College is transferred to the new site the reasons for retaining other institutions in the central area would be weakened. Consequently the whole cultural and educational complex might disintegrate.

In this Memorandum we have drawn attention to certain facts and have put forward certain arguments, and these, we believe, merit serious consideration. If our facts are sound and our arguments valid then our case stands irrespective of whether our personal views carry any weight. We welcome discussion ad criticism of all aspects of this Memorandum, both of the technical details and of the general argument, as we consider it vital that the forthcoming decision of the Oireachtas should be made in the light of all the evidence available. Only then can all feel sure that the decision will be the right one for the College and the community. We are confident that further study and discussion will serve only to strengthen our case.

64 U.C.D. and the Future

Appendix D

A LIST OF CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES, SCHOOLS AND HOSTELS IN THE GENERAL UNIVERSITY AREA*

1. Cultural, Educational and Professional Bodies

The National University of Ireland University College, Dublin Trinity College, Dublin The National Gallery The National Library The National Museum Arts Council Building Centre Central Catholic Library An Comchaidreamh Dental Board Foras Eireann Gael-Linn Institute for Advanced Studies School of Celtic Studies School of Cosmic Physics School of Theoretical Physics Institute of Chemistry of Ireland Institute of Chartered Accountants Institute of Professional Civil Servants Institute of Public Administration Institute of Civil Engineers of Ireland Insurance Institute of Ireland Irish Acadamy of Dramatic Art Irish Central Library for Students Irish Conference of Professional and Service Associations Irish Dental Association Irish Folklore Commission Irish Institute of Secretaries Irish Manuscripts Commission Irish Medical Association Medical Research Council Medical Research Council Laboratories National College of Art National Film Institute of Ireland Opticians' Board Royal College of Physicians Royal College of Surgeons Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Royal Irish Academy Royal Irish Academy of Music Royal Sociuety of Antiquaries

2. Schools

Alexandra College Catholic University School Diocesan Secondary School Kildare Place Schools and Church of Ireland Training College Loreto College Sacred Heart Convent Scoil Brigid The High School Wesley College

3. U.C.D. University Hostels

De La Salle Hall Dominican Hall Loreto Hall University Hall

Also within the area, or immediately outside it, lie several important teaching hospitals, and many leading booksellers and commercial firms which provide for the needs of the universities and professions in medical and scientific equipment, optical and surveying instruments, drawing-office supplies, etc.

*Neither this list, nor that in Appendix E, is exhaustive. For example, there are several well-attended private galleries in this area. Many other cultural and educational bodies also meet in the area.

Appendices 65

Appendix E

A LIST OF GOVERNMENT AND SEMI-STATE PROPERTIES IN THE AREA

St. Stephen's Green, E. 45 An Bord Uchtala 46 Dept. of Education Secondary Branch 50-51 Office of Public Works

St. Stephen's Green, S. 78-79 Passport Office 80-81 Dept. of Ext. Affairs

St. Stephen's Green, N. 14 Industrial Development Authority

Earlsfort Terrace 13-14 Office of Public Works A/Cs. Department 25-26 Roinn na Gaeltachta 30 Coras Tractala Teo. Civil Service Dining Club Special Employment Schemes Office

Harcourt Terrace 11a Garda Barracks 12-16 Film Censor's Office 21 Dept. of Agriculture Butter Testing Station

Harcourt Street 6 Dept. of Posts & Telegraphs

Hatch Street, Lower 26 Bord na Mona

Pembroke St., Upr. 28-32 Bord na Mona

Hume Street 1 Dept. of Education 10 Office of Public Works 14 Geological Survey

Ely Place, Lower 5-6 General Valuation & Boundary Survey of Ireland Office 5 Censorship of Publications Board

Merrion St., Upper 1-5 Depts. of the Taoiseach and of Finance 7-13 Dept. of Agriculture 14-16 Land Commission 21-24 Land Commission 25-29 Land Commission 31-38 Office of Comptroller and Auditor General

Merrion Square, N. 2-3 Dept. of Finance 13 Bord Failte 26 Industrial Credit Company

Merrion Square, E. 37 E.S.B. 40-43 E.S.B. 44-45 Dept. of Industry and Commerce 45 Indust. & Commercial Property Regis. Office Patent & Trade Marks Library

Merrion Square, S. 61 Land Commission 70 An Comairle Ealaion 73 Irish Manuscript Commission Department of Lands Ceimici Teo. Statute Law Revision and Consolidation Office 83 Dept. of Lands

Merrion Square, W. 88-89 Dept. of Lands (Forestry) 93 Land Commission