Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his answer. Vernon Mount House is something of a neglected treasure in terms of our history, in particular in terms of the Georgian period. The house was built in the late 18th century for a wealthy Corkonian during the period of Cork's history associated with the merchant princes. It is a remarkable piece of history in terms of its artistic and architectural values and is among the most significant surviving buildings from the period. It was a significant building of Cork's south side in its time and featured in a painting by the well-known artist of the time, Nathaniel Grogan, "Man Drinking from a Stream in the Grounds of Vernon Mount House". However, it is regrettably in a state of disrepair, as far as can be gathered, it looks poorly from the exterior and it is inaccessible to the public. It seems a shame that we might have such an architectural gem in Cork but little access to it. Does the Minister have any plans to ensure that the House could be renovated and opened to the public such that we could enjoy what the House has to offer and teach a new generation about the history of the time?

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