Castletown House and its demesne receive about 1 million visitors per year. Most visit the demesne. As the Tánaiste knows, the State was not successful in purchasing the land adjoining the house, where the only viable vehicle access is located. The historic village access is not viable, according to the OPW, and there appears to be an unwilling seller. I understand a CPO involves a long process; however, if it is a question of Kildare County Council entering a CPO process, will it have the backing of the State, including financially, in doing so?

Many Deputies, including Deputies Durkan, Lawless and Catherine Murphy, have raised what has happened in this case. I am not going to second-guess the county council in respect of a CPO because that would potentially involve a long legal route that may not ultimately yield the results we want. However, I assure the Deputy that the Government will work in a very supportive way with the county council to resolve this because public access is key. The house and demesne comprise a considerable amenity, not just for the immediate area but also for the country at large. We will certainly work to achieve the right outcome for the people in as timely a manner as possible.