Coffey to meet Min. Hayes on future of Mount Congreve Gardens

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, will this week meet with the Minister for State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Brian Hayes TD, and senior officials from the OPW, which is the State body responsible for the transition and management of Mount Congreve Gardens in county Waterford from the Congreve trust to the State.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the future of the gardens and to establish what progress has been made in negotiations between the stakeholders involved to ensure the gardens pass to the State as envisaged but also to ensure that the gardens are opened to the public into the future.

“It is imperative that a successful conclusion is reached in the negotiations so that the future of these world renowned gardens can be secured and it is my intention to continue to work closely with Minister Hayes to that end.

“This is real matter of urgency for Waterford and the South East region. The gardens are a huge tourist attraction and they have recently been highlighted in the economic strategy of the Waterford Local Authority Amalgamation Report as one of the key actions that need to be taken to drive the local and regional economy to the next level.

“There has been some level of frustration and disappointment that Mount Congreve Gardens have not been open to the public on a permanent basis and it is my belief that until the OPW takes control of the gardens and invest in and enhance them with visitor facilities, that their true potential will not be realised. I have arranged this meeting with Minster Hayes and his departmental officials to try and ensure a positive resolution for the management of the gardens so that they are opened to public on a permanent basis.

“The Minister is fully aware of the importance of this project for the South East. I will be pressing this matter with the Minister, and to highest levels in Government, to make sure these gardens are opened up to the public at the earliest possible opportunity.

“Mount Congreve has enormous potential to attract thousands of tourists and to play a vital role in helping to further boost tourism in Ireland’s first city. These gardens, which were bequeathed to the State by Mr Ambrose Congreve, are internationally renowned and they have the potential to attract many visitors to Waterford which will be of benefit to the local economy in the long-term.

“I want to pay tribute to Mr Congreve (RIP) and the staff at the gardens who developed and maintained the gardens to the highest standards over the years. It is now time to take the gardens to the next level as a tourist attraction and the staff will have a very important part to play in developing the next phase of the garden’s future.

“I am committed to working to ensure that an agreement will be reached to keep the gardens open permanently and to deliver this world class tourism product in the South East for all to enjoy in the very near future.”

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