Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are 18 rooms in the house and to be fair to my departmental officials and the OPW staff, they are anxious to get this right because this will be a flagship project for the south. I am delighted with it. The Senator has campaigned for many years. He regularly contacted me when I held my previous portfolio and had responsibility for Fáilte Ireland to put funding in place for this. Fáilte Ireland and my Department have examined the management structure and have produced a report. The report is being considered and we are looking at ways and means to put the structure in place because that will be the most important part of this. It is one thing to put the project in place but there has to be a management structure to run it in the years ahead. I will ask my officials to write to the Senator when a decision is made.

The Senator asked me to visit. I intend to do so in July. I would like to see what is happening with the works and I will definitely be there in August to open the gardens. Hopefully, I will be there next year to formally open this tremendous facility. I visit the area on holidays on a regular basis and the house had been left in a poor state for many years. It will be great for the town and the park itself. It is probably one of the finest amenities in the world. The Senator has been vocal about it for many years. I will see him there in July.