Vol. 573 No. 3
696 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the detailed breakdown of the reported ?30 million cost to the State in the event of purchasing Lissadell House, County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25408/03]
697 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his Department entered into discussion with other parties in relation to the purchase of Lissadell House; if so, the identity of these parties; and the outcome of such discussions. [25409/03]
698 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the reason he declined to meet with a deputation from Sligo County Council to examine and discuss the State intervention to purchase Lissadell House. [25410/03]
699 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the details of all correspondence exchanged between his Department and Sligo County Council since April in relation to the State purchase of Lissadell House. [25411/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 696 to 699, inclusive, together.
Lissadell House remains a property under private ownership. Any estimates provided earlier this year to my Department of indicative costs likely to be required for its purchase and development for presentation to the public were in the context of its possible State ownership and management. Such estimates should not be assumed to have relevance to any plans for the house which may be developed by its current owners and are not intended to infringe on the privacy of these owners.
Subject to the above, the cost of purchasing Lissadell House, estate and significant contents was estimated at €4.75 million. My Department was further advised that in the period 2003 to 2009, inclusive, additional expenditure in the region of €26.42 million would be required to carry out conservation works to the main buildings, development works to the demesne and other necessary works to facilitate public access and to allow its development as a major visitor attraction. This figure of €26.42 million was comprised of the following: €9.66 million for immediate priority works to address health and safety, fire and security and accessibility issues in relation to the demesne, the features within it and, in particular, the house, together with essential conservation works to its fabric; €8.3 million as a contingency provision for a programme of building fabric conservation works would have to be put in place based on detailed investigation and historical research, together with works within the demesne would be considered necessary to improve vehicular access and car parking, drainage and sewerage treatment, fire fighting provision and site lighting and possible conservation works to the farm building complex and the walled gardens to facilitate the development of the historic landscape setting; and €8.46 million for long-term works to facilitate the opening to the public of most of the basement level, the private apartments at first floor level in the main house and the entire stable block.
My Department was approached, on a confidential basis, by two separate potential partners with a view to entering into an agreement for the acquisition and future management of the estate. Before significant progress could be made it was announced that an agreement had been reached with another party for the sale of the property.
Due to a busy schedule in the last sitting weeks of the last Dáil session, I did not have an opportunity to meet a deputation from Sligo County Council. I had been kept informed, through correspondence and orally, of its views relating to the proposed acquisition. The council was kept advised of all my actions in the matter.
Details of the relevant correspondence between my Department and the council are set out in the following table:
|
No. |
Date |
From |
To |
Subject |
|
1. |
16 May 2003 |
Sligo County Manager |
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government |
Request that the State acquire Lissadell House. |
|
2. |
22 May 2003 |
DEHLG |
Sligo County Manager |
Acknowledgement and request for further information. |
|
3. |
9 June 2003 |
Sligo County Manager |
DEHLG |
Information on visitor numbers in North-west. |
|
4. |
9 June 2003 |
Sligo County Council |
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government |
Copy of resolutions requesting State acquisition and that the Minister meets a deputation. |
|
5. |
16 July 2003 |
Sligo County Manager |
DEHLG |
Further information to support case for State acquisition. |
|
6. |
25 July 2003 |
DEHLG |
Sligo County Manager |
Advising that cost of acquisition, conservation and development could not be borne by the State alone. |
|
7. |
6 August 2003 |
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government |
Sligo County Council |
Advising on present position. |
|
8. |
6 August 2003 |
Sligo County Manager |
DEHLG |
Expressing interest in concept of partnership. |
