Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - County Kerry Estate.

Mr. O'Leary

I thank the Minister for coming into the Chamber tonight at short notice to listen to my appeal to the State to purchase the Waller estate for the nation, thereby creating employment in the Kenmare-Sneem area of County Kerry. This estate consists of approximately 50 acres. Dromore Castle, which is 150 years old, has been recently inhabited and is structurally sound. More importantly, the Waller estate contains one of the finest exclusive fishing rights in Ireland. The river system which is ten miles long includes two tributaries also attached to the lands — one in Dirreendraugh and the other at Kealduff. There are also boating rights of 100 acres in nearby Lough Brin. These are excellent fisheries with great potential. The estate also has a half mile of netting rights on the Kenmare Bay estuary. There is a hatchery available on the lands.

There are 17 dilapidated dwellinghouses on the lands which could be made habitable again. The estate is one of the greatest indigenous resources with the greatest job potential to come on the market for many years. It has a boathouse next to the beach in a beautiful environment overlooking Kenmare Bay and stables which are in poor repair. The property could be purchased at a reasonable price and would be a very solid investment for the State. Dromore Castle is open for development as a tourism project in a specialist area with good employment potential.

I urge the Minister for Finance to consult with the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, the Minister for Tourism, the Minister for the Marine and the Minister for Energy in the preparation of a development plan for this valuable property. The numbers which could be employed on this property if developed would exceed by far the numbers which could be employed in a major industry in the area.

There is local goodwill in the Kenmare-Sneem area for the State to purchase this property for development for tourism, fisheries and leisure. I strongly recommend that the Minister use her good offices to arrange for the purchase of this property in the national interest. The estate is up for sale by auction in early July. I look forward to a favourable reply from the Minister.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Thar ceann an Aire, an Teachta O hUiginn, I thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to the Minister's attention. The Minister has requested the Office of Public Works to provide him with a brief on the Waller estate at Dromore, Kenmare, County Kerry, so that he can come to a decision in the matter.

One of the first things the Minister wishes to establish is a priority list of properties which the State should aim to acquire. The Deputy will appreciate that we must be discriminating in selecting the cases which the Exchequer will be called upon to support. Only properties of national significance should be on the list, and other factors, such as the nature of threat that exists to particular properties, will have to be taken into account in deciding on the priorities. The Minister intends to seek the assistance of the National Heritage Council in drawing up the criteria by which properties will be considered for inclusion and positioning on the list. In the meantime, the Minister will look specifically at the Waller estate and will let the Deputy know his decision in due course.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.05 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 16 June 1993.