Deputy Quinn has been given permission to raise on the Adjournment the question of the future of Cullenswood House.
Adjournment Debate. - Cullenswood House (Dublin).
I would like again to put on the record of the House my appreciation of the courtesy which the Chair has extended to me twice in recent times, this being the second time, of allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I propose, in view of the long day we have had, to be brief. The Minister of State for whose presence I am grateful, is aware of the primary and fundamental concern that I have with regard to this matter.
The building in question was used by Pádraig Pearse in 1908 to establish his first Irish language school. Known as Cullenswood House, it was acquired in 1960 by the State on behalf of the nation. It was detenanted, so to speak, in recent years and has remained vacant and is considered to be in a state of disrepair. The State has effectively two options. The first is the option which the State proposes to exercise and that is to sell it and dispose of it. I would put to the State and to the representative of the State, the Minister of State for the OPW, Deputy Treacy, that there is another and better option. The purpose of sale is to derive some asset value from this building. It is probably worth no more in the open market than approximately £50,000 and that is before the real hidden charges that Dublin Corporation now propose for connections to water and sewerage services. The site cost for flats and flat development for which this site would be a prime contender is of the order of £3,000 per unit and the total area of the site would not provide more than about 15 sites, hence my calculations and my evaluation.
If for £50,000 plus another £25,000 the State is proposing to get rid of a building which has an extraordinary historic connection, a unique link with the history of the Irish language movement, for which I know the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has a particular regard and affection, it will create a planning problem in an area of Ranelagh, Oakley Road, which is already overcrowded, has problems of congestion and has a passageway of below standard width with regard to the type of road there. I can hear voices in the OPW in Stephen's Green asking if there is no alternative, whether this building is regarded as a liability. It is in disrepair but I contest whether it is in the state of disrepair that Deputy Treacy's predecessor described to me in a letter of 21 August 1986.
Having summarised the position, I hope reasonably accurately, I would like to put to the Minister of State formally the following alternative proposal: that the OPW on behalf of the nation, exercising their functions within the jurisdiction of this State would make this building available at a nominal rent on a long lease to a community-based group whose intention would be to establish a museum devoted to the history of the Irish language movement and its cultural revival; that that building would be opened to the public and as part of the cultural infrastructure of this city would enhance the tourist attractions that Dublin needs in the advent of its millenium and coming in to the last 13 years of this century; that in addition it would become an important educational tool for many children of this generation who fail to see with the same degree of clarity of former generations the relevance of learning and speaking their own national language.
The cost of that undertaking would not fall on the shoulders of the State because I appreciate at this time that such additional cost cannot be borne. Therefore, the second component of my proposal to the Minister of State acting on behalf of the Government is that in giving this building on a long lease for a nominal rent to a properly registered and established community-based group. It is clear that the cost of refurbishment, redevelopment and opening as a museum would have to be borne elsewhere and not by way of direct State grant.
How do I propose that would happen? There is within the experience of AnCO a successful series of renovation projects undertaken in this area, whereby under the community youth training programme the construction costs, as expressed in labour cost terms, have been undertaken by young apprentices who carry out the work. Therefore it would be up to the community-based group, broadly representing cultural, historical and Irish language interests, to raise the cost of the materials alone. There is a successful precedent for this with regard to the restoration of a major building in Henrietta Street, now occupied by na Pióbairí Uileann of which you, Sir, may be aware. That was done under exactly the same formula of AnCO, on the one hand, and, on the other hand the energy, and enthusiasm of people with a commitment to a particular part of our overall culture.
I would foresee a situation in which the building would be restored to a state in which it could be opened to the public, with no liability falling on the shoulders of the State, where work in the process would have generated experience for young apprentices, where some community facilities, if appropriate, would be available to local people.
As well as all of that — as an additional part of the tourist infrastructure of the capital city — there would be a museum devoted to the history of those people who had struggled to rescue from what seemed to be oblivion a language now vibrant and alive. We are aware of the politics of that struggle, perhaps in a partisan way. We are not aware, certainly our children are not aware, of the extraordinary steps and strides taken at different times over the long 100 years that elapsed since that movement got off the ground. There is nowhere on this island one can take a visitor and say: within the four walls of this building you will see encapsulated the history of that struggle and the fruits of that success.
I suggest that the Minister of State is afforded an opportunity to try this proposal. I would respectfully suggest that all that is being forfeited is the possible realisation of a sum of the order of £50,000. With the degree of professional experience I have I suggest to the Minister that he will not find a purchaser who will acquire it without outline or full planning permission being attached to the site. Therefore, in immediate cash terms the Minister will not reap the benefit of money up front. For that relatively small sum of money the Minister has the alternative proposal of trusting a local community, under the Irish language movement, with this different kind of proposition. If my confidence or judgment is proven wrong, then the matter simply reverts to the Minister and he proceeds with the sale.
That is what I propose, that it be offered to a community-based body, allowing them to use the institutions already there in the manner I have described, in the hope that they can get a successful cultural museum launched and established. If — and this is the safety net — they are not successful then the building would revert to the State and the Minister could proceed with its disposal in the manner currently contemplated.
Tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil seans againn uilig cúpla focal a rá faoi Theach Cullenswood i Ranelagh. Tháinig an t-ábhar seo faoi mo bhráid coicís taréis mé bheith tofa mar Aire Stáit le cúram oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí.
I am pleased that Deputy Quinn has afforded me an opportunity to refer briefly to the situation pertaining to Cullenswood House in Ranelagh. Approximately two weeks after my appointment in the Office of Public Works the file on this matter was referred to me. I studied it, feeling that this historic property should be scrutinised by me, an inspection and report having been furnished already by the expert staff in the Office of Public Works.
Cullenswood House is situated in Oakley Road, Ranelagh, and is at least 150 years old. It was acquired by Pádraig Pearse in 1908 and housed the first Scoil Éanna, Pearse's bilingual school for boys, from its inauguration in 1908 until its transfer to Rathfarnham in 1910. In that year Pearse founded Scoil Íde, a bilingual school for girls in Cullenswood House. In order to afford himself that opportunity he also rented property across the road from Cullenswood House popularly known as Sunnyside. Cullenswood House, as a bilingual school for girls, closed down in 1912. We are fortunate in the Office of Public Works to still have the lease Pearse signed in 1908, surely a very important artefact and museum piece.
In the autumn of 1916 Mrs. Pearse reopened Scoil Éanna in Cullenswood House, as British soldiers had occupied The Heritage, Rathfarnham, in the wake of the Rising. The school returned to Rathfarnham in 1919. Cullenswood House was purchased with the grounds attached, by the State from its owner, Senator Doctor Margaret Mary Pearse in 1960. The grounds were transferred for a nominal consideration to the trustees of Scoill Bhríde as a site for a new all-Irish national school which was completed and opened formally in 1965.
Cullenswood House, which was occupied by five tenant families at the time of purchase, remained in the administration of the State. The building itself may have been built prior to 1800 — it definitely existed in 1833 — could be even older but is considered of no real architectural merit at this time. From the outside it may appear to be in relatively good condition. From professional advice and my personal inspection I know it is in an advanced state of disrepair, needing much renovation. When purchased 18 years ago it was in a gradually deteriorating state of disrepair. The Office of Public Works' architects made a professional report on it, leaving the commissioners with the option of disposing of the property at their discretion. Obtaining vacant possession from the tenants became a priority of the commissioners. This proved to be a protracted business, finding suitable acceptable alternative accommodation being a major problem. This was finally achieved in 1986. Here I should like to express our appreciation and gratitude to the housing department of Dublin Corporation for the excellent co-operation and assistance they gave officials of the Office of Public Works in providing the necessary alternative accommodation so that the tenant families could be relocated.
Cullenswood House is now in an advanced state of disrepair. There have been a number of representations by various organisations, by at least two Members of the Oireachtas, regarding its historic association and connection, arguing that such justifies its preservation by the State. I note in particular the personal interest expressed by Deputy Quinn in this matter over a long period of time and to me personally. Of particular relevance in this regard is the fact that the commissioners have already restored Saint Enda's College, Rathfarnham, and maintain the premises as a memorial to the Pearse family. Approximately £270,000 has been spent on the restoration of St. Enda's to date and most of this was spent between 1977 and 1979. It costs up to £200,000 per annum to maintain St. Enda's College in Rathfarnham, with a permanent staff etc. Full restoration of St Enda's is not yet complete. The House should be aware that the Commissioners of Public Works acquired Pearse's holiday cottage at Rosmuc in the Connemara Gaeltacht in County Galway in 1943. Approximately £35,000 has been spent on maintenance work at this location over the last number of years.
When I received the file I obviously noted the very important historical and cultural connections with Cullenswood House. I felt it incumbent on me, being a new person in this position, to visit the house and to see it at first hand. The professional advice available to me was confirmed on my own inspection. Despite that, I am very interested in preserving this building for the State but the funds to do that are not readily available to me from the State. However, I will give every consideration to the proposals put forward by the Deputy. The commissioners and the staff of the OPW and I have already discussed the options available whether of complete disposal of the house on the open market by public tender or otherwise. We recognise the necessity to have proper planning permission. Any subsequent purchaser of the property would have to get planning permission if they were to change the use of the building. However, I, along with the commissioners and the Minister for Finance, will consider any proposals from a responsible body wishing to acquire the building for the purpose of restoring it and setting it up as a museum or cultural centre. I would welcome any detailed proposals in this regard immediately in order to allow the commissioners and the Minister for Finance, as well as myself, to make a final decision on this very historic property.
Would the Deputy like to add anything to that?
I appreciate the invitation which you have extended to me, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I would like to put on the record my appreciation of the Minister's response and to assure him that I will try to arrange for such a response in the form of a detailed proposal to be put to his office as soon as possible.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.05 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 June 1987.