Ms Clare McGrath:

The Mount Congreve Foundation has submitted a proposed plan for the gardens, which would see them being open from Thursdays to Sundays from February to October. The foundation has suggested a charge in this regard and is projecting visitor figures of 100,000 based on the average number of visitors who came to open days in 2013. From the OPW's perspective in respect of the State side, the State will obtain freehold with regard to the gardens 21 years after the passing of Ambrose Congreve and in 2059 in respect of the house. In the interim, it is in the interest of the Office of Public Works that the gardens are being managed and cared for by the Mount Congreve Foundation.