At the beginning of last year, intimation was received by the Government from Mr. Maurice Victor Lakin, of County Wexford, that he proposed to make a gift to the nation of the entire property of Johnstown Castle, with certain minor exclusions which will be referred to, to be used as a lay agricultural college. On getting this offer, the Government was very glad to accept the gift, and on referring the matter to its legal advisers for the necessary agreements and so on, we were advised that legislation was necessary as a consequence of acceptance of the gift. That is why this Bill comes before you. Johnstown Castle is well known as one of the historic residences of Ireland. It is a very imposing structure, and has been visited always as a place of interest and a place of historic associations. I believe it is a place of architectural interest to those interested in that subject. The lands attached to it comprise about 1,000 acres, all held in fee simple, save for one small piece held on lease. The lands are admirably situated for an agricultural college. There are about 600 acres of arable land, typical Wexford land. It is the type of land that must be tilled in order to keep it in good condition, like most of County Wexford, and it will be suitable on that account in particular for an agricultural college.
There are about 300 acres under timber some of which is mature, and about 100 acres which is more or less waste, but which we believe we can reclaim. This will be a particularly interesting experiment for the students of the college. The grounds are very attractive and the gardens which are walled in are large and well stocked. It will be possible, I think, to maintain a fairly substantial horticultural college as well as an agricultural college.
I need hardly stress to the Seanad the necessity for more accommodation for agricultural colleges. We have more applications from boys in the country than we can satisfy at the moment. We have three State colleges at Clonakilty, Athenry and Ballyhaise. University College has a somewhat similar college at Glasnevin, and there are four colleges under religious control—by the Salesian Fathers in Limerick and Meath, by the Franciscan Brothers at Mountbellew, and one under the Diocesan Clergy in Monaghan. All of these are not sufficient for our needs at the moment and Johnstown Castle will certainly be a great help. I am sure the Seanad will realise that the gift is a very valuable one to this nation and I would like to say that we appreciate the gesture of Mr. Lakin and of Mrs. D.V. Jefferies of Carrigbourne, County Wexford, who has an interest in the lands and has been associated with Mr. Lakin in making the gift. I want to mention two or three conditions because the Senators may be rather puzzled about some of them. There are a few conditions mentioned in the Bill. They relate mainly to making provision for existing employees on the estate. We have dealt with the employees on the national stud farm. No condition was made by the British about that, but here we have undertaken with the donor to see that the employees are treated in a special way with regard to pension, retiring allowances and so on. We have also undertaken to preserve the general ornamental condition of the grounds and the right of way to the private cemetery where members of the Fitzgerald family have been buried for the last 50 years, reserving fishing and sporting rights to the donor and refunding the death duties on the estate only.
I ask Senators to keep that in mind because there has been a misundering on that question. There is no question of Mr. Lakin getting away with all the death duties on the property inherited. Only the death duties on this particular estate will be refunded. There were certain other small matters. The Bill contains sections providing for the implementation of these conditions and to enable the property to be used as a lay agricultural college. There was a form of agreement signed in the beginning for the transfer of the property. This is attached to the Bill by way of schedule and a copy of the conveyance by which the property will be conveyed is also attached. The Bill is implementing the agreement made by Mr. Lakin and the Government and providing for the conditions that Mr. Lakin asked for at the time he was making the gift.
