Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will set out the position here. To be clear, I do not have the latest update from a meeting that took place at 5 p.m. I have been in the Chamber since then myself. The OPW is responsible for Castletown House. In 2008, it reassembled 227 acres of the original estate. The OPW attempted to purchase the lands from Janus Securities on several occasions, including in 2022 but it was outbid. In May 2023, the OPW engaged in negotiations for a licence agreement with the new landowners but could not agree on terms. Access to the M4 road and car park was allowed until 15 September 2023. 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, it could not agree to the unreasonable terms of the licence agreement. The landowners then allowed use of the M4 access road and carpark until 15 September. However, the OPW has a responsibility to ensure public access to Castletown House and estate and is funded by the Oireachtas to do so. To ensure public access, the OPW explored creating a temporary car park within State-owned lands but this plan was abandoned after community feedback. With only the Avenue, Celbridge, as vehicular access, a community protest group has blocked access for OPW staff and contractors since 30 September, leading to difficulties in site maintenance and operations.

The OPW has continually sought to find a solution to these challenges within the community. Following intensive dialogue, and with the help of an independent facilitator, the OPW secured the agreement of three out of four local community groups to allow for limited access to Castletown House and estate for OPW staff, as well as essential suppliers and contractors. This access is crucial in order to ensure the house and its collections remain safe and secure. It is also critical that contractors are allowed unimpeded access to the demesne, both to confirm that the site is safe for visitors and to carry out maintenance and conservation works. Despite the protocol being set to operate from yesterday, 18 October, local community protesters continued to block access, prompting the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, to convene a meeting with various representatives to address the situation including all elected representatives, community representatives, representatives of Kildare County Council and from An Garda Síochána, and the union representing staff employed at Castletown House and estate. The impact of the protest on the health, safety, and welfare of OPW staff is a concern, and vehicular access through the Celbridge gate and Lime Avenue is necessary. Similar protocols have been safely implemented at heritage sites across Ireland. The OPW has continued to engage with the landowners. While the M4 access is an important amenity, in particular for local recreational users of the estate, the OPW can only agree to reasonable and feasible terms in any negotiation to ensure value for money for all taxpayers in Ireland. As these are confidential commercial negotiations, it is not appropriate to discuss these matters.

The OPW faces challenges in ensuring access to Castletown House and estate, with community protests affecting staff safety and its maintenance. It seeks support for a protocol that allows vehicular access and remains committed to expanding the historic estate when that is possible.

See this speech in context