Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Tánaiste to get involved with the Office of Public Works, OPW, in the context of its actions in relation to the acquisition of lands at Castletown House in Celbridge. The community of north Kildare has rallied behind the acquisition of the lands and is dismayed at how it is being publicly pilloried by the OPW. That office needs to focus on engaging professionally and energetically with the landowners and the community rather than releasing over-the-top statements about closing Castletown House. We do not want a big house farce here. The lands with N4 access should be the focus. In fact, there always has been access for OPW workers to Castletown House through the Batty Langley gates and this should be maintained until the avenue issue is resolved. I am concerned that I have been misled by an OPW official on this. The fact is that the restaurant at issue always closes for the winter months. The community, which is made up of workers including public and civil servants and private sector workers, is upset that the great people working there have had to finish their season earlier than usual because of the OPW's intransigence. Frankly, the Minister must see to it that the OPW gets its act together before it loses the lands again, not to mention all of the backing and goodwill of the community. I ask the Tánaiste to try to turn this lose-lose situation into a win-win for the people of north Kildare.

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