Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 1

Written Answers. - Kilmacurragh House.

Enda Kenny

Question:

271 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the background to the State acquisition, sale and re-acquisition of Kilmacurragh House, County Kildare; the purchase price of the house from the State; by whom it was purchased, and when; the reason and conditions the State re-acquired the house; the purchase price to the State and the conditions applied to the sale; if a condition was inserted that the house should be retained as a ruin; if so, the reason in this regard; if the building was ever deemed to be a listed building; if not, the reason this was not deemed appropriate upon being disposed of by the State and in view of the architectural importance of the house; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19471/99]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I understand that Kilmacurragh Estate was purchased in 1974 by the Irish Land Commission and subsequently was in the ownership of the Forest and Wildlife Service and then the semi-State company Coillte. In 1992, Coillte decided to put some 52 acres, including the house and arboretum, on the market and it was bought by a Mr. and Mrs. William Dolan. Any questions the Deputy may have regarding the sale by Coillte is a matter for that organisation.

The arboretum, including the house, was purchased by my Department in 1996 for £250,000. The purpose in my Department acquiring the property related specifically to the arboretum, with its internationally renowned mature plant collection and also its long association with the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, another major heritage property in the care of my Department.

It was a condition of the Department of Finance approval to my Department for the purchase of the Arboretum that the house be retained as a ruin. There are now concerns, however, about the further deterioration of the House and it is proposed, therefore, to carry out works to stabilise the shell of the house and retain it as a feature of the arboretum, thereby maintaining the relationship of the house and gardens in context.

The house is listed in the Wicklow county development plan and this will be a major consideration in deciding the approach to be adopted in carrying out the works to stabilise the House.