Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, for taking this matter on the Adjournment. He will understand the issue because he spent many years in Killarney. That is why he has advanced to where he is.

Killarney House is a State owned property of major historical interest and national importance. The historic contents of Killarney House, including antique furniture dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries as well as valuable art work, ceramics, silverware and so on, were purchased by the State and are currently in storage at a cost of some €70,000 per year. In the current year, the capital budget allocated to the national parks and wildlife service, which has commitments in respect of other national parks, reserves and so on throughout the State, does not include any funding for future works at Killarney House.

Under the current national development plan, however, Fáilte Ireland has been allocated some €137 million to fund cultural projects. A proposal for a preservation, conservation and restoration of Killarney House was submitted by Killarney interests and was deemed by Fáilte Ireland to be worthy of merit. However, that proposal has not progressed beyond the expression of interest stage because the national parks and wildlife service communicated to Fáilte Ireland its view that it alone could prepare and submit a proposal in respect of Killarney House.

The citizenry of Killarney and County Kerry along with other interested stakeholders are concerned that potential funding for Killarney House via Fáilte Ireland's national development plan allocation will be lost simply because of the apparent proprietary control of the property being exercised by national parks and wildlife service officials. I cannot understand this difficulty; we are all State servants. If the funding is available, it should be forthcoming. It is a fright to see this property lie idle and continue to deteriorate and crumble as it has done for some years.

I accept the good intentions of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I wished him well when he came to Killarney and spoke about these difficulties. There is a bright future for Killarney House and I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, will tell me presently that there has been some progress. On the Order of Business this morning, I welcomed Deputy Healy-Rae's announcement last Friday on Radio Kerry in regard to funding. I look forward to learning the nature and extent of that funding.

Killarney House was the property of the earls of Kenmare who lived there from the time of the burning of their mansion at Knockreer in 1913 until the death of Lord Castlerosse in the 1950s. For 40 years thereafter, John McShain, who built both the Pentagon and the entire interior of the White House, lived there with his wife. It has been in the State's hands for ten or 11 years. The plans for Killarney House are wonderful, incorporating a chapel in which will be displayed something of our early Christian heritage. It could become a major interpretative centre. The property is in the town of Killarney as well as being in a national park. I look forward to the Minister of State's positive response.