Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for coming to the House to take this Adjournment Matter regarding Killarney House and gardens, to outline her plans for both and to say when they will open, how they will be managed and staffed and what they will showcase. I was hugely impressed when I visited them with the Minister, following her recent visit to Muckross House for its 50th anniversary. I think she was also very impressed by what we saw in Killarney House and the tremendous restoration work that has been undertaken there.

As we know, Killarney House is a stunning venue located in the town of Killarney and in the national park at the Golden Gates. It has the potential to contain a most comprehensive introduction to Killarney national park. The gardens are spread over 35 acres and will be a most attractive feature, being, if I may say so, Killarney's answer to St. Stephen's Green and a beautiful town park in our foremost national park.

The house has a rich, varied and interesting history, being as it was the home of the Earls of Kenmare and Lord Castlerosse. Much of our history in that part of the world is bound up with that family. It was also the home the John McShain, who was known as the man who built Washington, associated as he was with many of its outstanding buildings, including the White House and the Pentagon. He was also the man who gifted Ross Castle and Inisfallen Island to the nation. Inisfallen is where the annals were written and which are now located in the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

For many years, I have campaigned to have this house restored to its former glory and I am, therefore, delighted, as is everybody in Killarney, Kerry and perhaps throughout the nation, that it is now on the verge of opening, following a huge €7.1 million investment which was provided through Fáilte Ireland's tourism capital investment programme and the Minister's Department. Our entire tourism industry is looking forward to the Minister opening the house and gardens for the 2015 tourism season.

Given the huge investment, adequate management and staffing will be necessary to complement both the house and gardens and to ensure they are displayed to their true potential. The Minster might say a word as to what she has in mind in terms of how they will be managed and staffed. Presumably, there will be a charge because maintenance, ongoing improvements and so on will be necessary from time to time, although given the huge initial investment, it will be a while before they arise. I understand there will be an audiovisual or a multipurpose space at the back, which will need care and attention for exhibitions, talks, lectures and so on. I look forward very much to the Minister's words of wisdom and her enlightening me further.