Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important, sensitive and difficult issue concerning Castletown House, Celbridge. As he and everybody knows, it is an 18th century neo-Palladian country house built within an extensive estate. The Deputy will be aware that there have been many difficulties over this matter recently. I have a very extensive note on the matter but even if I do not get to read it all into the Dáil record, he will be given a copy of the full script.

In 1994, the Office of Public Works took responsibility for Castletown House and estate. Initially, there was only 13 acres of land with the house. It has long been the policy of the OPW to seek to reunite the parts of the historic Castletown estate. In 1997, 100 acres south of the house were acquired. The farmyard adjacent to the house was acquired in 2001. In 2006, lands associated with Batty Langley Lodge were acquired, and former Coillte lands to the north and east of the house were acquired in 2007. Since 2008, the OPW has reassembled 227 acres of the original 580 acres of land that formed the historic demesne.

As part of the policy to seek to reunite the historic Castletown demesne lands with the house and lands in the care of the State, the OPW sought on several occasions to purchase the lands from Janus Securities, including when the lands were offered for sale on the open market in 2022. However, despite the best efforts of the OPW, the State was outbid in the open market process and ultimately, the lands were acquired by a private purchaser.

The OPW entered into negotiations with the new landowners on a licence agreement in May 2023. While the OPW was prepared to pay the significant uplift in the licence fee the landowners were seeking, the OPW could not agree to the unreasonable terms of the licence agreement. The landowners then allowed the use of the M4 access road and carpark until 15 September 2023. In the interest of ensuring access for approximately 25,000 annual visitors to Castletown House and approximately 1 million visitors to the estate, the OPW continued to work with the landowners. During July and August of this year, the OPW sought to buy the land from the new landowners. However, it was not possible to agree to purchase the majority of the land holding. On 31 August, the OPW made a compelling without prejudice offer to the private landowners to specifically acquire the 19 acres of land comprising the carpark, a right of way on the access route from the M4 gate and other lands close to the House. This was rejected by the new landowners.

As it appeared unlikely that agreement could be reached, the OPW developed plans for a small carpark of 70 spaces. While the M4 access may have changed, the State continued to have primary access to Castletown House and estate through the historic Celbridge gate entrance. The purpose of this was to ensure adequate access to Castletown House which is of national and international significance. The proposed temporary car park would have assured the primary, historic access route through the Celbridge gate and over Lime Avenue to Castletown House. It would have enhanced facilities for cyclists and drivers with a disability. After a robust and positive engagement with the local community, the OPW did not proceed with the temporary car park plans. This was after having listened carefully to local community views in Castletown. However, the impact of this was reduced car parking at Castletown House with a smaller number of car parking spaces. The primary access would be through the historic Celbridge gate and Lime Avenue for cars. A concern was raised by residents that the lack of car parking would result in inappropriate parking in neighbouring housing estates. However, this is outside of the role of the OPW

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