The Government has been contacted by two groups interested in going into partnership on the purchase and restoration of Lissadell House.
Last week the Government ruled out the purchase and refurbishment of the Co Sligo landmark, with estimates that the upkeep and refurbishment costs would be nine times the purchase price of €3.75 million.
Following last Wednesday's cabinet meeting, the Minister for the Environmentr, Mr Cullen, said the Government would however consider buying the property as part of a public private partnership deal.
It has now emerged that one voluntary organisation and one private firm have expressed an interest to the Government in a public private partnership.
It is not clear at this stage what type of development is proposed, but sources are adamant it would not involve converting the house into a hotel or developing a golf course on the estate.
It is believed however that the necessary investment of €30m would require a major development at the site, most likely in the tourism sector, to generate adequate returns.
Yesterday, the house's current owner, Sir Josslyn Gore-Booth, questioned the €30m figure for buying and refurbishing the house.
He gave examples of two houses in private hands, Ballynatray House in Co Waterford and Castletown Cox in Co Kilkenny, whose recent refurbishment he said did not cost anything approaching €30m.
Government officials are adamant that the €30m cost, which includes the €3.75m purchase price, is correct.
They have pointed to the refurbishment costs of nearly €23m associated with Farmleigh, which was double the original estimate.
"There's a big difference between refurbishing a house for private use, and the standards for making it suitable for public use, including fire escapes, wheelchair access and such," said one spokesperson.