Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I am delighted to welcome the Minister of State to hear his response on this issue because it may be as close to his heart as it is to mine. As he is aware, I have been vocal regarding Killarney House for many years, both inside this House and in County Kerry. I look forward to hearing his response that I hope will represent progress and that something will happen.

The Minister of State undoubtedly is aware that costs are increasing and accruing continually. The cost of storing the antique furniture alone is considerable. There also are not inconsiderable heating and security costs. Essentially, Killarney House is an important historic property of national interest and absolutely nothing is accruing to the State. This matter sadly has been allowed to languish for years. As a recent editorial in The Irish Times stated:

Successive Ministers promised to preserve the integrity and character of Killarney House. They failed. Basic damp-proofing measures were taken, but the fabric has been allowed to decay. As a proud people, we should at least respect our heritage and the generosity of benefactors.

Speaking of the benefactors, I refer to both the late great John McShain and the Earls of Kenmare before him. For years it was the home of Lord Castlerosse and his father, the sixth or seventh earl. They lived there from 1913 until approximately 1953. Thereafter, John McShain and his family lived in the house for 40 years. They brought to it much of its character and many individual fine pieces which, as noted previously, are in storage. This is tragic because a fine plan was proposed by all the Killarney interests represented on the national park liaison committee. I understand it was intended to house an interpretative centre for Killarney National Park. It was also intended to dedicate a room to John McShain, the man who built Washington DC. He carried out a rejig of the White House and built the Pentagon and many other famous buildings in the city. In Ireland he was of great assistance to the horse racing industry and won many famous races with horses he had in training with the former trainer, Vincent O'Brien.

Both John McShain and the Browne family, as represented by the Earls of Kenmare and Lord Castlerosse, were very good to Killarney. I understand the intention was to dedicate one room in the house to the McShain family and another to the Browne family, that is, Lord Castlerosse and the Earls of Kenmare. The house has the advantage of being in the heart of Killarney town while remaining within the national park and it was intended to be a tremendous tourism project which people could visit in the evening, having toured the Ring of Kerry or visited other sights during the day. Alternatively, they could visit in the morning before going on tour. It would have been highly central. Moreover, it was intended to refer to our early Christian heritage in the chapel with a display and other works.

Everyone is highly enthusiastic about this proposal. Moreover, the national tourism development authority, namely, Fáilte Ireland, has allocated approximately €137 million to fund cultural projects. This would be an ideal project. I know it has the goodwill of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, because I have discussed it with him previously. More recently, our colleague in the other House, Deputy Healy-Rae, as part of his support for the Government, obtained funding that, presumably, has yet to be spent. I look forward to the Minister of State telling me when the work will commence, what it will involve and whether he thinks it will restore the house to a condition in which it can be reopened to the public, accommodate various displays and house the antique furniture that is being stored at great cost. I look forward to that day, which I hope is not far away.