Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

Killarney House is an historical building, part of a French-style house which was home to the Earl of Kenmare. It was owned by the late Mr. John McShain, one of the biggest developers in America who redesigned the White House and built the Pentagon, who died in Killarney in 1989 and whose wife died in 1998. They bought this estate in the 1950s and bit by bit, from 1970, started gifting it, including thousands of acres, to the Government. There are many historic parts to it as well, including the monastic island of Innisfallen, Ross Castle and two of the lakes of Killarney.

Later, for a nominal sum, they handed over thousands of acres of woodland and pasture while retaining life tenancy of Killarney House. The last 21 acres were given to the State just two years ago. Sr. McShain, the sole child of John and Mary McShain, stated recently that her parents would be heartbroken that the house they loved and restored is now neglected and to see the paint peeling off the walls.

I tabled this matter because to the people of Killarney and Kerry, and to visitors, Killarney House is the body of Killarney. This house is falling asunder. The McShain's were given a commitment by the Government that it would be restored to its former glory and accessible to tourists and the public. It is a disgrace. It is shameful that this beautiful structure which was donated to the State has been allowed to decay and fall into ruin, especially in times of such affluence and prosperity.

The Minister has stated that he is committed to restoring the house. Given those words, I must ask how much money he will put into it and what he will do with it. My colleague for south Kerry, Deputy Healy-Rae, announced last week that he has been given a commitment that money will be spent on Killarney House. Nobody knows how much. Nobody knows what work is to be done. There are valuables from the house in paid storage at a cost of €70,000 a year.

There is a commitment by the Minister to restore the House. I want to know what that commitment entails. How much money is involved? What will it do? Will there just be another few dehumidifiers put into the House to keep the rising damp at bay? People want to know.

It was intended that the parklands and the house would be enjoyed and appreciated by visitors and locals alike and not let run into a state of ruin. In recent times it has been occupied by squatters. This has been disregarded by the Minister but it is fact. I spoke with people in the town hall in Killarney who confirmed that there had been squatters. It is a disgrace.

I and the people of Killarney and the surrounding areas want this house to become a heritage centre that would incorporate all matters of a historical and cultural nature relating to Killarney and County Kerry, the ancient monasteries of Innisfallen, Aghadoe, Muckross Abbey and Ross Castle. It could be an interpretative centre. We do not want merely to stop the rising damp and replace a few slates on Killarney House. I ask that the firm commitment will be honoured by adequate funding after the costing has been done to provide this interpretative centre for Killarney. It is in the heart of Killarney and it would really add to the core of the town.

A National Parks and Wildlife Service plan was drawn up a number of years ago, a copy of which I have seen. Such a plan should be fully costed and there should be public consultation on this issue. It is well and good to think that we have experts from NPWS, with all due respects, and from the Minister's office who can decide for the people of Killarney and of the country how Killarney House could be best used on behalf of the State. Following public consultation, the Minister should set up a task force that will come to a consensus on how Killarney House can best be used. He must provide the funding, not just for a few more dehumidifiers, but to bring the house back to its former glory, as Mr. McShain wanted.

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