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

I reiterate that the OPW is not seeking to bring significant volumes of traffic through the Celbridge gate and the lime avenue. The OPW envisages the lime avenue operating as a pedestrian-priority road in line with current practice across numerous OPW sites, such as St. Stephen's Green and Farmleigh. The OPW has given written commitments that the volume of traffic will be approximately 20 vehicles per day for OPW staff and essential contractors. People with a disability will also be facilitated at that entrance.

At this time, Castletown House and estate will not be offering car parking for visitors to Castletown. The practical implementation of this new reality, and ensuring that it does not have a negative impact on the local community in Celbridge, is a key area of discussion for the working group. To date, the independent facilitator has convened three meetings. I understand that a fourth meeting is due shortly. The OPW remains committed to acquiring the additional lands that form part of the original estate, where they become available, in order to reunite the historic demesne. As the Deputy knows, the State tried to acquire these lands in 2022 but were outbid by the current landowner. The OPW has had commercial negotiations with the landowners over the past nine months. These discussions have included the options of purchase of either a portion of the land or the entire portfolio or, alternatively, to seek renewal of the previous licence agreement.

The OPW continues to engage with the private landowners at Castletown estate with a view either to purchasing all or a portion of the lands under consideration at an acceptable cost or to find an agreed means for the public to pass over the lands in private ownership. The OPW is aware that the landowner has recently applied for planning permission to retain and substantially develop the existing M4 access road and car park. While in principle the OPW welcomes efforts to facilitate public access to Castletown, it will examine this application in detail to ensure that it is aligned with OPW's remit to protect and preserve the historic setting of the house and to ensure all biodiversity requirements are accounted for.

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