Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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223. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount that the OPW offered to buy lands immediately adjacent to the State-owned Castletown House and demesne in Celbridge. [33433/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works sought sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to purchase the lands in question at Castletown.

In a private treaty sale and as part of a sealed bids process, the OPW offered in excess of the guide price of five million euro. The OPW and the State was ultimately unsuccessful in this process and the lands were acquired by private buyers.

Subsequently, the OPW has entered negotiations with the new owners regarding the terms of its licence of the land which has ensured provision of public access to Castletown, from the M4 motorway, since 2007. These negotiations are ongoing.