State approves €2.5m for historic castle before planning is completed

Government ministers approved a €2.5 million grant for an empty historic castle in the run up to the local elections without any concrete plan or final cost estimate.

The decision to turn Johnstown Castle in Wexford into a major tourist attraction was announced locally by the two ministers in the constituency – Brendan Howlin, the Minister for Public Expenditure, and Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe.

The castle, which is empty, is costing €300,000 ...