Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue again and the Minister of State for coming in to answer questions in the House. I raise the matter on this occasion to ensure the focus remains on the vital issues surrounding access to Castletown House, Celbridge, in my constituency, and the future of the house, which is a stately mansion of historic significance. It is significant architecturally and in terms of local amenities and tourism. It has an historical link with this House because the Speaker of the Irish Parliament came from there.

I welcome the ongoing negotiations. However, there is a worry, namely that while those discussions are taking place, the access that was previously enjoyed by the general public and the State, which owns Castletown House and 227 acres, is not available. People had the right to pass freely in any direction they wanted for the past 15 years, albeit on foot of a licence granted by the neighbouring landowner. That arrangement has now come to a halt and the access has been denied. The longer that access is denied and the State and its agents cannot traverse from the M4 to the house and grounds, as was previously the case, the more a question mark will be raised. I welcome the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming. I ask that every effort be made to restore access for the public in the shortest time possible. The longer the house remains closed, the greater the chance that it will not be open to the public again in the way we had become accustomed to.

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