asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of an application for sanction to sell Mote Park House, Roscommon, for demolition; and, if so, whether he is prepared (a) to refuse sanction to any such request, and (b) to request the Land Commission to investigate, in collaboration with other Departments, the possibility of its use for purposes beneficial to the State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mote Park House, Roscommon.
The Land Commission have made an inspection of the Crofton estate, which includes Mote Park House, to ascertain if it is suitable and available for acquisition for their purposes. Pending a decision on the question of acquisition and the outcome of any proceedings that may be taken for the acquisition of the estate, it would be premature for the Land Commission to reach a final decision on the proposal to demolish Mote Park House or to investigate the possibility of utilising the building for State purposes. As an interim measure they have withheld consent to the demolition of the building.
May I point out that recently that very excellent body An Oige interested themselves in Mote House? Would he consider their application favourably if the decision not to demolish the house is adhered to?
The Deputy should familiarise himself with the policy of the Land Commission. The Land Commission is there; it is costing the country a great deal of money; and its purpose is the relief of congestion.
Is the Minister aware that this house is one of the finest of its kind in the country? It is 400 years old and in a perfect state of preservation, and it would be a tragedy if it were handed over to wreckers for the sole purpose of demolition. It was to ensure that it was not demolished but put to some useful purpose that I put down this question, as the Land Commission were about to give sanction for its demolition.