Written answers
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
National Parks and Wildlife Service
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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812. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what types of evaluations were carried out before authorising the purchase of Dowth Hall. [1312/24]
Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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All evaluations, checks and approvals required in relation to the purchase of the lands at Dowth Hall were carried out as per the Public Spending Code, Circular 17/2016: Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property, the State Property Act 1954 and Departmental internal processes including Ministerial and Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) approval.
Inter alia, the following evaluations were carried out and inputs sought:
- Full third party Commercial Valuation;
- Full third party Survey of land and buildings including mapping and searches;
- Inspection by National Monuments Service experts on the archaeological aspects of the estate and lands
- Inspection by National Parks and Wildlife Service experts of the ecological and agri-science aspects of the land;
- Full consultation and advice from the Office of Public Works, including from its historic properties experts; and
- Supporting Business Case including cost benefit analysis as per the Public Spending Code submitted to DPENDR.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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813. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what steps are proposed or already being taken to end farming practices and other exploitation at Dowth Hall, in line with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) designation for national parks which obliges NPWS to take steps "to prevent or eliminate as soon as possible exploitation or occupation in the whole area and to enforce effectively the respect of ecological, geomorphological or aesthetic features which have led to its establishment". [1313/24]
Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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This 552 acre park contains valuable elements of natural, archaeological, architectural and agricultural heritage of universal value. It will be managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as a new national park to ensure the preservation of these features for the people of Ireland. The NPWS will shortly begin work on preparing a management plan for the entire site which will inform the future management of the lands and all the features of the Park.
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