Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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269. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW made efforts to purchase lands in close proximity to Castletown House; and if the OPW has investigated whether the grounds and or lands of Castletown House have been the subject of poisonous overspill (details supplied). [29162/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As part long-standing OPW policy to seek to reunite the historic Castletown demesne lands with the house and lands in the care of the State, the OPW sought, on several occasions, to purchase the lands from Janus Securities including when the lands were offered for sale on the open market in 2022. However, despite the very best efforts of the OPW, the State was out-bid in the process and ultimately, the lands were acquired by a private purchaser.

The State owned lands at Castletown House and Estate have not been subject to a poisonous overspill. The OPW have not identified any risk of an impact of a poisonous overspill on State-owned lands.

Any potential issues relating to poison on private lands would be a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency.

The OPW will continue to monitor any potential hazards to the State owned lands at Castletown House and Estate.