Deputy Therese Ahearn gave me notice of her intention to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter as to the future usage as a tourist amenity of the Swiss Cottage at Cahir.
Adjournment Debate. - Cahir (Tipperary) Monument.
First I wish to thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for your permission to raise on the Adjournment this very important matter in my constituency, that is the closure of the Swiss Cottage in Cahir. I must initially convey to the Minister the frustration, dismay and almost disbelief of the people not only in the town of Cahir but all over south Tipperary at the lack of access to the Swiss Cottage, not only to them but to the many tourists who visit Cahir throughout the year.
On 1 September 1989 we were honoured to have the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, in our constituency to perform the official opening of the Swiss Cottage in Cahir. On that occasion he stated how impressed he was with this splendid and magnificent building. In particular he remarked on its rustic simplicity and its picturesque appearance. Apart from its obvious charm and enchantment it is unique of its kind in Ireland. On that occasion, too, the Minister spoke of its tremendous potential as a tourist attraction, complementing the nearby Cahir Castle in the area. Sadly, I regret to inform the Minister that Deputy Daly was one of the few who had the privilege and the opportunity to visit the cottage and experience its splendour, situated as it is in a romantic, secluded location.
Since that official opening day on 1 September 1989 the Swiss Cottage has been open to the public for just two weeks, that was about eight months ago. I consider this to be a disgraceful abuse and misuse of a major tourist amenity in our area. We in south Tipperary are determined to share this cottage with the many visitors who come to our county. Having checked with South Tipperary County Council I understand it is intended by the Office of Public Works to have the Swiss Cottage open from mid-June to September, just three months of the year, and in those three months, from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no bus tours allowed on Sundays and no school tours allowed at all. Compare this to Cahir Castle which is one mile upstream and which is open all year round as it should be. Sadly the Swiss Cottage is not an isolated case in this area. There are many such instances of major tourist attractions that are closed for the majority of the year.
Are we serious about our tourist industry and its potential considering that places of such interest are not even open? Where is the logic in spending up to £300,000 in renovating, restoring and refurbishing the Swiss Cottage, accepting the generosity of an American lady called Sally Auld who was generous enough to sponsor this renovation, and then to have it locked for three quarters of the year? I must further ask — and this too is a serious question — how we can justify publicising the Swiss Cottage and other such amenities in holiday brochures and recommending it to our tourists as a place to visit when it is not even open? I contend that there are no grounds whatsoever for treating the Swiss Cottage as a seasonal amenity. It is as beautiful in winter as it is in summer. It is a place where, irrespective of the weather, one could go to enjoy an afternoon. It is absurd and bordering on the ridiculous to have the Swiss Cottage closed while Cahir Castle is open.
Last September we in south Tipperary welcomed with enthusiasm the completion of this project because it would complement Cahir Castle. We thought it would be a major tourist asset to Cahir and to the south of Ireland. I am asking the Minister to make provision to have the Swiss Cottage open at the same times as Cahir Castle and to utilise both amenities to their full potential. I visited the Swiss Cottage last Saturday, bringing some friends with me to see what I had described to them as the jewel of the south but found, to my astonishment, that it was closed. However great my embarrassment, it was increased when a tour bus carrying 40 tourists also had to leave the cottage disappointed. Furthermore there were other casual visitors in the area. We all left totally frustrated and disappointed.
I am sure that even the Minister is surprised and shocked that this splendid piece of architectural beauty is locked and totally inaccessible to tourists. While I welcome the provision of guided tours during the summer, I believe the full potential of the Swiss Cottage can be achieved only by its complementing Cahir Castle as there is just one mile between them.
I would also add that neither are we utilising the full potential of the Swiss Cottage. There is a tremendous potential for a boat trip from Cahir Castle up to the Swiss Cottage and back again. Yet this is not being utilised at present. As well as extending the opening hours of the Swiss Cottage the Minister should provide that amenity. This area would then be a place of interest for tourists and would attract many visitors.
This is a serious issue in south Tipperary. We are proud of the Swiss Cottage. We welcomed it with enthusiasm but we believe it should be open and accessible not only to tourists but to local people. I can never understand why, in April and May such an amenity is closed when there are many family occasions, such as Confirmation days and first Communion days, when people have visitors to their homes and they would like to visit one of the local attractions. We will be very disappointed if the Minister does not extend the opening hours of the Swiss Cottage to coincide with those in Cahir Castle so that we in Cahir and the surrounding areas of south Tipperary can utilise this splendid, attractive amenity of which we are very proud.
, Limerick West): I am glad that this matter was raised. I thank Deputy Ahearn for her commitment and very wise suggestions which I will gladly bring to the attention of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Daly. I welcome this opportunity to discuss the opening arrangements in respect of the Swiss Cottage in Cahir, County Tipperary. As the House may know, the Swiss Cottage was opened to the public on 1 September 1989 on completion of the restoration works which were largely funded by the Court Royal Foundation. This was done with a view to facilitating visitors before the end of the tourist season. An opening period of two weeks was envisaged but this was extended until Sunday, 24 September 1989. A notice to this effect was printed in a local newspaper.
It is the practice of the Office of Public Works to close all but a small number of national monument sites during the winter months. In relation to the Swiss Cottage, arrangements could be made for groups to visit the site during the off season if they contacted the caretaker, well in advance of their proposed tour. The suggestion made by Deputy Ahearn that groups, for example, Confirmation day groups, be facilitated in the offseason can be met by giving notice to the caretaker.
I want to deal with the 1990 summer season. The guide information officers for the Swiss Cottage will attend a full training programme in the next few days. The cottage will then open to the public with a full guide information service from the bank holiday weekend of 2 June 1990. The site will remain open until late September. I should point out, however, that the cottage will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday, inclusive. The cottage will be closed on Mondays, except for bank holidays. The reason for the closure on Mondays is to allow necessary light maintenance works and cleaning duties to be carried out.
I also want to inform the Deputy that the Office of Public Works are investigating the possibility of a weekend service for the period late September until early November. The points raised by the Deputy are being investigated. I am conscious of the demand for the service and for the extended opening hours. I assure the Deputy that the points she has raised will be brought to the attention of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Daly. I hope he can accede to the Deputy's requests. They will be considered very carefully.
That is a disappointing reply.