Pages 58 & 59

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 agree-
ment 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 pro-
vincial 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 recom-
mendations 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.