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

Indeed it is and I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise this particularly important issue for north Kildare and for the country. It is important for the protection of the national interests in the arts, the preservation of great houses, for the history of area and for the need to ensure that whatever happens around Castletown House has the full support of the local population. They have supported this heretofore, and continue to support this, despite the fact the response coming from OPW is less than helpful. Much in the tone of the last speaker, we all represent our respective areas throughout the length and breadth of this country.

In this particular case in Castletown, there was a temporary situation in operation for past ten or 15 years whereby ongoing permission was given to go to and from the State's house, property and assets and to provide whatever services necessary to protect the State's interest in the historical house and gardens. The way the situation has developed is that there have been a number of meetings where the issue has been discussed but no solutions have been proposed. There have been no solutions and there has been no progress in tackling the fundamental issue.

The fundamental issue is how to go to and from the State's property at Castletown House and the 137 acres, or whatever it is at this stage. I have repeated it so often, I can barely remember it. The fact of the matter is that this was happening. The people and the OPW were quite happy with it - everybody was happy with it.

There is the aspiration of buying the rest of the property in the future. That has to be dealt with as well but it can be dealt with once secure access to and from the property is guaranteed. That is a first because if there were two private landowners side by side, this matter would have been decided long ago because it would have been decided in the courts and an injunction, an arrangement or agreement would be entered into. There would be no threat to the historical house or the adjoining landowner because ways and means would be found to share the access. There would be no problem at all about that. There needs to be progress in that area, and it needs to be soon and dramatic.

My reason for saying so is that the people who have kept vigil around Castletown House and the access to it since last September have done the State a considerable service, in that they have helped to protect the listed house for all kinds of reasons mentioned several times before for the foreseeable future. That has to happen anyway if access to the house is not allowed by the State and its agents to its own property.

I would like to know what better case would come before the courts. I would like to hear it and to see the evidence. We are told from time to time that there is legal advice but we have not seen the legal advice. We are told the legal advice is that we have no chance and it is compared the situation to Lissadell and so forth. It is not at all analogous to Lissadell. It is a different story altogether.

I ask the Minister to do all he can do to bring about a quick response and to ensure the access that was there already is restored in the first instance and thereafter to negotiate whatever purchase is required.

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