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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - Kenmare (Kerry) Estate.

I thank the Minister for State for being present to reply to this matter, namely, the need for the State to purchase the Waller Estate, including castle and fisheries, at Dromore, Kenmare, County Kerry, in order to develop the property for tourism and other job creation purposes in the national interest. This property which appears to be for sale again has not been sold. When I raised this matter in the House last June I made it clear that the purchase of this property by the State would create employment in the Kenmare-Sneem area of County Kerry.

This estate consists of approximately 50 acres. Dromore Castle, which is approximately 150 years old, has been occupied recently and is structurally sound. More importantly, the Waller estate contains one of the finest exclusive fishing rights in Ireland. The river system which is ten miles long includes two tributaries also attached to the lands — one in Dirreendraugh and the other at Kealduff. There are also boating rights of 100 acres in nearby Lough Brin. These are excellent fisheries with great potential. The estate also has a half mile of netting rights on the Kenmare Bay estuary and a hatchery is available on the lands.

There are 17 dilapidated dwelling-houses on the lands which could be made habitable again. The estate is one of the greatest indigenous resources with the greatest job potential to come on the market for many years. It has a boathouse next to the beach in a beautiful environment overlooking Kenmare Bay, with stables attached. The property could be purchased at a reasonable price and would be a solid investment for the State. Dromore Castle is open for development as a tourism project in a specialist area with good employment potential.

I urge the Minister of State to do everything possible to encourage the State agencies, Bord Fáilte through Cork/Kerry Tourism, the Department of the Marine or the Central Fisheries Board to purchase this property. There was an agreement at one time that this property should be sold to the Central Fisheries Board and also to an Irish national living abroad but it appears the sale fell through. At that time Cork/Kerry Tourism made an offer in the region of £800,000 for the property. Cork/Kerry Tourism has great plans for Dromore Castle and it is reasonable to assume that the castle could be separated from the fisheries. Cork/Kerry Tourism's only interest in the estate was the acquisition of the castle to be used as the world headquarters of Celtic heritage and also to use it as an international heritage centre.

When they offered £800,000, Cork/ Kerry Tourism had the backing of a private individual who was interested in acquiring the remainder of the estate at the time. It envisaged disposing of the Blackwater river to the Central Fisheries Board. I am aware that Cork/Kerry Tourism and the private individual are still interested in acquiring the castle and the lands and intend to proceed with the purchase should they be given an opportunity to do so.

The Central Fisheries Board is aware that Cork/Kerry Tourism is interested in the purchase of Dromore Castle. Cork/Kerry Tourism, however, has not been contacted by the board. I trust the Minister of State will do everything in his power to make funding available for this package because the purchase of Dromore Castle for use as the world headquarters of Celtic heritage would be of great economic benefit not only for the Kenmare-Sneem area of south Kerry but for the country as a whole. It will create at least 25 full-time jobs with the added benefit to tourism of having the world headquarters of Celtic heritage in the area.

This property should be purchased now by the State in the national interest. Cork/Kerry Tourism should be allowed to develop the castle for use as an international pan-Celtic centre and the Central Fisheries Board should be allowed to develop the fisheries aspect of this property.

Donegal South-West): Following inquiries made by my Department, it is my information that the Waller estate is not for sale. I note the Deputy's statement, however, that it appears to be for sale again and he can be assured that I will make further inquiries. The most recent inquiry which I have made, however, confirms that it is not for sale.

The whole question of State purchase of heritage properties is a difficult one. With scarce financial resources the Deputy will appreciate that we must be discriminating in selecting the cases which the Exchequer will support. It is to this end that the advice of the National Heritage Council has been requested on the criteria which might be applied in assessing buildings for inclusion on a priority list of buildings which the State should acquire.

In relation to the Waller estate on the basis of the information available to me, this property would not, from the heritage policy perspective, figure on a priority list of buildings to be purchased by the State. This would not, of course, preclude other interests in the tourism and fisheries fields from purchasing this property. Dromore is a most impressive two storey, over basement Gothic castle surrounded on three sides by woodland. It stands in a setting of great beauty, has facilities for fishing and sailing and is within a short distance of Killarney, Waterville and Ballybunion golf courses.

The Deputy has made a strong case for the Waller estate to be considered for tourism and fishery purposes and it would appear this is where the future development of the property lies. I agree that employment could be created, that it is an indigenous resource and that the castle could be separated from the fisheries. The Deputy referred to the importance of this estate as a heritage centre and he referred also to Cork/Kerry Tourism and the Central Fisheries Board.

I assure Deputy O'Leary that I will bring this matter to the attention of the Minister of State with responsibility for the Central Fisheries Board and to the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism and Trade with responsibility for tourism. Despite the fact that I am told that the property is not for sale, I will certainly make further inquiries. We will seek the advice of the National Heritage Council but it may not be the type of development which would be high on its list. I can assure the Deputy that at the earliest possible date I will bring the case made by him to the attention of my colleagues in the Department of the Marine and the Department of Tourism and Trade.

The Dáil adjourned at 9 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 30 March 1994.

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