Written answers
Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
State Properties
Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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50. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason and how the State acted with such alacrity on the purchase of a property at Dowth, while still delaying on the purchase of lands at Castletown to the degree the current owner has withdrawn their proposal to sell, due to lack of appropriate engagement; and if he will publish the timeline of the transaction regarding Dowth in order that Dáil Éireann and the public might examine, compare and contrast the State approach to the two acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52688/23]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage recently reached agreement to purchase the Dowth Hall Demesne in Co. Meath. This 552 acre site contains valuable elements of natural, archaeological and architectural heritage and will be managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in collaboration with the National Monuments Service (NMS) and the Office of Public Works (OPW) as a new National Park to ensure the preservation of these features for the people of Ireland.
The NPWS, the NMS and the OPW will work together to deliver a Masterplan for the property that allows for the protection, presentation and management of this area of the Boyne Valley for the people of Ireland. Management of Dowth Hall and lands will form part of the existing Brú na Bóinne Management Plan and strengthen the vision for the protection of Dowth’s remarkable heritage, including the Neolithic passage tomb discovered in 2017 under Dowth Hall itself.
I understand that this property was brought to the open market and that the Department is currently in the process of finalising this acquisition.
As part of the policy to seek to reunite the historic Castletown demesne lands with the house and lands in the care of the State, the OPW has 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 open market process and ultimately, the lands were acquired by a private purchaser.
The OPW has engaged, and continues to engage, with the private landowner but there has been no outcome to date. The most recent correspondence issued by OPW to the new landowner was 13 October 2023, 19 October 2023, 27 October 2023 and 9 November 2023 with further correspondence due to issue in the coming days. As these are commercial negotiations, it would not be appropriate to comment any further.
Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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51. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the State acquisition of the lands at Castletown; the timeline of each and all engagements by the OPW with the current owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52689/23]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) continues to engage with the private landowners at Castletown Estate with a view to either purchasing all or a portion of the lands under consideration at an acceptable cost or to agree a means for the public to pass over and park on the privately owned lands.
Through the Chief State Solicitors Office, the OPW issued correspondence to the private landowners on 13 October 2023, 19 October 2023, 27 October 2023 and 9 November 2023. As the Deputy will be aware, the OPW issues all correspondence relating to property-related matters without prejudice and subject to contract/contract denied. This is standard practice in all dealings or communications relating to property issues.
Please see attached timeline of engagements with the private landowners from April to November 2023.
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