Plans have been made to hand over part of the 160 acres of Aras an Uachtarain to Dublin Zoo during the period between the resignation of the President, Mrs Robinson, and the inauguration of her successor, The Irish Times has learned.
One source said work could start as early as September 15th, three days after Mrs Robinson's departure to take up her post as UN Commissioner for Human Rights, and that it would be well under way when the new President takes over in December.
Mr Sean Benton, a commissioner at the Office of Public Works, insisted yesterday that the matter was "still being considered" and "no decision has been taken yet". However, it is understood that it is on the Cabinet's agenda and may be decided next week.
The plan, which is backed by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, would involve taking some 25 acres from the grounds of the Aras, including a lake, some paddocks and part of the avenue. The main gate lodge would have to be demolished and rebuilt elsewhere.
Mr Ahern has been a strong supporter of Dublin Zoo, which is located in his Dublin Central constituency. In 1994, as Minister for Finance, he approved a grant of £15 million over 10 years to fund its development programme, which included the acquisition of more land.
He said at the time it was "a matter of complete indifference" to him where the land came from, as the Phoenix Park, at 1,760 acres, was so large. But he promised "full and open public consultation" before any final decision was made on an expansion proposal.
However, there has been no public consultation about the latest plan. It is understood that the President was approached about the idea some years ago, but she refused to express a view, saying it was a matter for government.
Legally, Aras an Uachtarain - the former Viceregal Lodge - and its grounds are the property of the State, through the Office of Public Works. The President, for the time being, is effectively a tenant, with no rights over the property and no role in relation to its use.
In 1990, the year Mrs Robinson was elected President, a working party appointed by the Government to advise on the zoo's future recommended that it should be given extra land in the Phoenix Park to relieve overcrowding and develop a more spacious "wildlife park".
The working party, chaired by Mr Mick Doyle, veterinary surgeon and one-time coach of the Irish rugby team, specifically mentioned the President's lake and some of its adjoining land, as well as The Hollow and the Polo grounds.
But the OPW strongly resisted these proposals and pressure from the zoo to expand beyond its boundaries. "The public open space in the Phoenix Park is under continuous threat from different groups. We are holding the line on this," its spokesman declared.
No provision was made for the zoo's expansion in the 1986 management plan for the Phoenix Park. This plan defined it as a "national historic park" and began a process of restoring its landscape, under the direction of the park's superintendent, Mr John McCullen.
Mr McCullen could not be contacted yesterday as he is away on holiday. So, too, is Mr Peter Wilson, the director of Dublin Zoo. A spokeswoman for its public relations agency, WHPR, said that only Mr Wilson was authorised to talk about development plans for the zoo.
"There is nothing we can say at this point," she said. However, she confirmed that the Zoological Society of Ireland was reconstituted as a limited company in 1994, with two government appointees on its board.
Mr Brendan Price, a former zoo keeper and longstanding critic of its administration, said yesterday he was "shocked" that the Government would contemplate handing over public assets to an unaccountable private body, describing the move as a "betrayal of trust".
