Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When I came into this role a relatively short time ago, I wanted to resolve the issue in Castletown. In doing so, I chaired the meetings in Castletown myself. We have held four meetings and a fifth will take place tomorrow. I intended holding a meeting on Tuesday but unfortunately I was the Minister of State on duty here that day and had to be here much earlier so I deferred the meeting with the patience and acceptance of the members until tomorrow at 10 a.m.

I have a script but I will deal with the main components. Everyone involved wants a genuine resolution for Castletown. It is about access and the long-term objective of the Government to unite all the lands that are related to the Castletown estate. As I said, I have chaired four meetings and there is another tomorrow. Recently, I met with residents on another access point with the chair of the OPW, Mr. John Conlon, which would be temporary for staff access to maintain Castletown House and grounds. We are continuing to engage with these residents on the matter.

I want to put on record that during my tenure as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Lime Avenue will not be a permanent vehicular access route. I have met the residents and everyone in the area and that is a commitment I have given. If there is agreement on the other temporary access point we seek, I want to find a broader solution to this. The working group wants to find a solution to the visitors' car park and it continues to consider all other options, including M4 access. The OPW is also working on a potential parking solution with the Kildare Innovation Campus.

I am following up on requests from people in the working group. 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 has sought on several occasions to purchase the lands in question, including when the lands were offered for sale on the open market. However, despite the very best efforts of the OPW, the State was outbid in the open market process and, ultimately, the lands were acquired by a private purchaser.

Can I have a bit of discretion on time?

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