asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works will acquire Lough Rinn Castle and grounds in County Leitrim for development as a national park.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lough Rinn (Leitrim) Castle.
18.
The Commissioners of Public Works do not propose to acquire the property in question.
Will the Minister of State ask officials in his Department to examine the possibility of acquiring this property? It is one of the finest castles of its type in the country and the adjoining gardens and lands contain many horticultural plants that have been planted in this area during the years.
The estate would not be suitable for acquisition by the Commissioners of Public Works as a national park. It has no features of national significance and, in any case, it would be too small to be considered for such a purpose. A land area of at least several times the total area of the estate would be needed before it could even be considered for national park purposes.
I thought from the Minister's reply to a previous question that he had no details on his original reply.
I am calling Question No. 19.