Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an mBille seo. Sinn Féin welcomes the Bill and, as such, has no objections to it. The proposal to develop the castle and gardens at Johnstown Castle as a visitor destination for the south east region is also welcome. As we are all too aware, the region is an unemployment black spot which is in urgent need of assistance and action. Only yesterday, at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, my colleague, Senator Cullinane, pleaded with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, for immediate, strategic and targeted Government intervention in the region. Sinn Féin has also repeatedly called for a regional IDA Ireland office and director to be located in Waterford. The south east is in desperate need of jobs and it is clear there is an opportunity to make use of the tourism potential of Johnstown Castle and its surrounding grounds and, hopefully, provide employment for people in the area and elsewhere as a result. Any spin-off from the development of the castle and its grounds that would have a positive impact on the local area is to be welcomed. However, I have one concern. It is imperative that we ensure - and place on record the fact - that neither the castle nor any part of its grounds should ever be sold for private development of any kind. The castle and its grounds were gifted to the State - or, in other words, the people of Ireland - in 1945 on the proviso that they remain in public ownership. It is our duty as legislators to ensure this remains the case.

We hope the work of Teagasc will not be affected by any aspect of the proposed development. It is valuable work and Teagasc must be properly resourced in order that it might continue its supportive role in Irish agriculture. At present, there is great demand on its services, particularly in terms of the education and training of young farmers. There is now an obligation on such farmers to obtain formal training from Teagasc in order to qualify for some farm payments. This has resulted in the numbers applying for level 5 and 6 courses increasing from approximately 500 to 1,500 per year. As a result of the public service recruitment embargo, Teagasc does not have the capacity to deal with this demand. This issue must be tackled. The aim of the new obligation for people to obtain training was very positive in nature. It would be a great shame if young farmers could not avail of it and meet the obligations relating to eligibility for payments due to the fact that Teagasc is so under-resourced that it cannot meet the demand.

Johnstown Castle is a valuable national resource that people cherish. Tourism needs innovation such as that proposed in this instance. The south east will benefit in a number of ways as a result of what is planned. Johnstown Castle and its environs should be cherished and developed in the interest of our people. The people of Wexford are rightly proud of their heritage and welcome the plans to develop the estate. The notion of establishing a centre of excellence at Johnstown Castle should be examined and I hope the Minister will give consideration to developing the estate for the benefit of both the people and the tourism industry.

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