David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I have tabled this Adjournment matter to try to discover what plans the Office of Public Works has for the Mount Congreve Estate in Waterford.

The Minister may be aware that in 1979, an agreement was reached between the State and Mr. Ambrose Congreve, who was the owner of the house and gardens that comprise the Mount Congreve Estate. The arrangement was that on the death of Mr. Congreve, which occurred a number of years ago, the estate would be managed by a trust involving three trustees, one of which would be the Commissioners of Public Works. After a transitional period of 21 years, the freehold and ownership would then transfer to the Minister for Finance, after which the State, through the Minister for Finance, would own the house and gardens. Enormous tourism potential exists because this is a highly attractive and world-renowned garden and a plan certainly should be developed for it. Approximately 15 horticultural staff are employed there full-time, to keep the gardens to a very high standard and they are concerned, as am I, about the long-term future of the house and its gardens. It is necessary to ensure that a plan is put in place and in so doing, all the stakeholders must be brought together. I consider the stakeholders to include the Mount Congreve Estate Trust, which is comprised of the three trustees, including the Commissioners of Public Works. It must also involve the Congreve Foundation, which essentially derives from the proceeds of Mr. Ambrose Congreve's estate and is funding the continuation of the payment of the staff wages at present, as well as the Office of Public Works itself and Waterford County Council.

I seek to explore what plans the Office of Public Works has and what actions will be taken to bring together all these groups to draw up long-term and short-term plans for the house and the gardens to exploit the existing tourism potential and to ensure the jobs in the house and gardens are safeguarded. I will listen to what the Minister has to say because the essential purpose of raising this matter on the Adjournment was not to give the Minister a history lesson - I am sure she is aware of the garden's history - but to explore what precisely the Office of Public Works is considering and what will be the plans. As I mentioned, there is huge tourism potential and as it is a facility that will be in public ownership, there is a responsibility on the State to ensure that what is a world-renowned garden is kept up to the highest standard and that the potential offered by this splendid house and garden is maximised for the people of Waterford and the State.