The House passed the second stage of the State Property Bill.

The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, said it was a technical measure to allow the Kildare town by-pass through the lands of the National Stud Farm.

The part of the farm required for the motorway, amounting to 16.58 hectares, had been acquired by Kildare County Council by way of a compulsory purchase order, he said. A further 21.66 hectares would be severed by the motorway from the main stud farm and would no longer be useful to the National Stud.

"While no decision has been taken as to what to do with the severed land, I consider it desirable that all options be available to the Minister for Agriculture and Food, including the option to sell the land," Mr Walsh added.