Noel Dempsey
Ceist:112 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will favourably consider the purchase of Headfort House for the State. [10560/95]
Written Answers. - Acquisition of Estate.
From a recent newspaper report it appears that Headfort Estate, Kells, County Meath was recently purchased by a three-way consortium. It is understood that a local school, who are the former lessees of the estate, acquired the greater part of the House, that a forestry company acquired one of the wings of the main house and 370 acres of woodlands and that a local farmer acquired 440 acres for agricultural use. I am not aware that this property is for sale and therefore the question of State acquisition does not arise.
The Deputy is no doubt aware that the question of possible State acquisition was raised in 1993, and at that time, the Office of Public Works recommended against such acquisition.