Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, made a commitment in regard to Killarney House. Sadly, the cost relating to repairing it is rising each day. A report outlining the decay, rising damp, etc., by which the house is affected is in the public domain. We have waited far too long for a decision in respect of this matter. The sooner repairs are carried out, the less they will cost. I ask the Leader, in the dying days of this Administration, to use her good offices to have the long-standing commitment relating to this matter fulfilled. Useful and beneficial action could be taken, perhaps under a public private partnership involving the two local authorities, the trustees at Muckross House and the Department in respect of a worthwhile cultural tourism project