The developers of a new town near Lucan in west Dublin have "wholeheartedly" rejected claims by the former TD, Mr Liam Lawlor, that they will have to use and pay for a controversial underground sewage and drainage system in the area, which he part-owns.
Mr Lawlor told The Irish Times he expected to make money from the proposed Adamstown development, as it would be required to use a sewage system he has a share in. It is estimated he could receive €2.5 million.
However, senior figures at Castlethorn Construction, one of the main developers of the site, rejected Mr Lawlor's claims. "We'd wholeheartedly disagree," said Mr Jude Byrne, Castlethorn project manager. "There are no third-party pipes on Adamstown. The bulk of Adamstown drains into the centre of Adamstown."
Yesterday, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, turned the sod on the first phase of the ambitious €2 billion development of the 500-acre site, which will surround Mr Lawlor's Georgian home, Somerton House.
Adamstown is the first strategic development zone (SDZ) in the State, and will see the construction of schools, roads, transport infrastructure, shopping and community facilities on a phased basis.
Mr Lawlor's home is one of two sites excluded from the zone, although the former TD now claims he will make money from the underground pipe system. In the late 1980s a series of underground pipes, to drain surface water, were laid close to the house by a consortium of businessmen with links to Mr Lawlor, including the solicitor, Mr John Caldwell.
Mr Lawlor claims this was done at the suggestion of Dublin county planners, who said they could make money in the future from the pipe through the development of the Adamstown lands.
Mr Lawlor holds an interest of between 25 per cent and 40 per cent in the pipes, through two companies, Metrolaunch and Valley Holdings Ltd. Both companies are registered outside the State.
In 2003, the Mahon tribunal, which is investigating the pipe deal between Mr Lawlor and his business associates, heard that the owners could expect to receive €10 million for the use of the pipes, at least €2.5 million of which would be due to Mr Lawlor.
Yesterday Mr Lawlor told The Irish Times he believed the pipes would have to be used in the Adamstown development, and his companies would be paid for this. His agents were "in the process of negotiations" on the use of the pipes.
However, Castlethorn's Mr Byrne said the developers had put together a detailed drainage plan that would be totally self-contained. The municipal sewers of South Dublin County Council would be used. He said Castlethorn had had no contact whatsoever with Mr Lawlor or his agents on the matter.