Vol. 443 No. 3
134 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade, in view of his announcement earmarking funds for garden restoration and recognising the importance of gardens to our tourist industry, if he will consider the acquisition of Kimacurragh House County Wicklow as a unique garden and arboretum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Great Gardens of Ireland programme which I announced recently is intended for garden restoration purposes only and cannot be used to fund the actual purchase of properties. Such expenditure would not be recoupable from European Funds. Kilmacurragh Gardens which were recognised as gardens of international importance in the last century are indeed a good example of the type of property whose restoration this programme was designed to assist. I understand that the Irish couple, who purchased it some two years ago from Coillte Teoranta with a view to restoring the house and gardens, are about to put the property back on the market as they have been discouraged from proceeding with their plans by some local opposition. I regret this development as I believe the present owners were committed to restoring these historic gardens and opening them to the public.
I am not aware of any other State Department or organisation which is in a position to purchase this property. In circumstances in which future ownership is unclear, assistance cannot be pledged by the garden restoration programme which is designed to assist gardens where long term access by the public can be formally guaranteed.
