Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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This issue concerns the delay in the refurbishment of Athlone Castle due to the requirement for ministerial approval and the broader connotations the delay has for tourism opportunities.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important matter. It is an issue which has been ongoing for almost a year and a half and one that has serious implications for the potential of Athlone as a tourist destination.

Last week, Athlone Town Council learned that refurbishment of Athlone Castle might continue for a third tourist season and the castle could remain closed to the public until the tourist season of 2012. The town council was informed that the executive was awaiting receipt of ministerial consent as part of the development work.

The castle was initially closed in May 2010, the year of its 800th anniversary, resulting in serious controversy, in order to enable the restoration project to begin. Now, more than 16 months later, construction has not even begun. It affects other attractions as the castle was part of a package of visitor attractions, such as trips up the River Shannon and to Clonmacnoise. The restaurants and hotels are also being affected. The likelihood of further delays to the re-opening of the castle is disappointing and worrying for the business and tourism potential of the town. Returning tourists cannot believe the castle is still not open. Its closure is undoubtedly having a negative effect on the town at a time when we should be doing all we can to attract tourists. There is also fear that the delay in construction could threaten the grant funding for the regeneration and restoration of the castle if the work is not carried out on time.

The project is designed to provide improved exhibition space, upgrade interpretative facilities as well as an overall restoration of the castle. I understand an archaeological impact assessment has to be conducted at the site and ministerial approval is then needed from the National Monuments Service before the work can begin. The restoration is costed at €3 million, a significant investment that is warmly welcomed in Athlone. The town, however, cannot see another tourism season go by without the castle being open to visitors. The website, Athlone.ie tells visitors that the facilities of the castle, "are once again being re-developed to bring the standards of interpretation and display in line with the visitor expectations of the twenty-first century". The keep of the castle will be used to tell the dramatic story of the famous Siege of Athlone while the other buildings will house a modern interpretative centre focusing on Athlone, the castle and the periods both before and after the siege. There will also be a new presentation on the life and times of John Count McCormack, Athlone's most famous son.

Will the Minister provide an update on the current stage of the castle renovations, give an indication of when it will be open to the public and an assurance that the grant will not expire before construction is complete?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy McFadden for raising this matter. I am aware of her deep commitment and interest in cultural tourism and the arts, including amateur drama. I agree with her that this is indeed a most worthwhile proposal and I appreciate the opportunity to clarify the position in so far as my Department's involvement is concerned. We are all in agreement that the project should proceed as quickly as possible and that it will be a valuable addition to Athlone's arts and heritage portfolio.

As the Deputy outlined, Athlone Town Council is developing a visitor centre within the bounds of Athlone Castle. An application for consent for the visitor centre, made on behalf of Athlone Town Council under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930, is being dealt with by my Department's National Monuments Service. Athlone Castle is a national monument owned by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and, hence, my consent as Minister is required under the Act to any planned works that might impact on the castle itself. Clearly the visitor centre falls within that framework.

The proposal, of course, also needs planning permission and Athlone Town Council has already completed the Part 8 planning process. The then named Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government - the responsible Department at the time - was consulted in connection with the Part 8 process and provided its observations to the council in May 2010. The Department raised no objections but asked that the proposed works should be overseen by an archaeologist and advised that ministerial consent would also be needed under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004 on the basis I have outlined. These are routine requirements that would form part and parcel of the Department's response to any planning application relating to a national monument.

The application for consent under the National Monuments Acts was subsequently submitted to my Department on 16 August 2011. The Department immediately referred the application for observations to the director of the National Museum of Ireland, who is a statutory consultee under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004, and also to the Office of Public Works in light of the castle being in State ownership. Neither body has raised any objection to the proposal. In the meantime, my Department has written, our letter issued on 16 September 2011, to the archaeologist who lodged the consent application on behalf of the town council asking for an archaeological impact assessment in respect of the proposed works. Again this is a routine requirement associated with the consent process and would have to be furnished in all such cases.

The objective of an archaeological assessment is to verify that the approaches to preservation in situ and preservation by record of archaeological material will be applied appropriately to the particular development. By helping to ensure development projects are organised from the outset in such a way as to avoid or minimise archaeological impact, archaeological assessment can eliminate or reduce costs and delays that could otherwise arise along the way. The archaeological assessment is, therefore, a most valuable tool that will help the developer to resolve potential pitfalls in advance, rather than having to deal with delays and associated expense after the contractor has started work.

From what I know of this proposal I believe it will become a valuable attraction for tourism in the midlands, for promoting Athlone's heritage and a wonderful amenity for the people of the town. It is the type of venture I encourage other local authorities also to become involved in. Indeed it will nicely complement the redevelopment of the adjacent Fr. Matthew Hall as an art gallery for which funding has been provided by my Department. We must be mindful that great care is needed to ensure the integrity of a structure like Athlone Castle, the oldest part of which dates back to the beginning of the thirteenth century, is properly safeguarded for future generations. To do otherwise would be to damage irredeemably its legacy and undermine the very project we are seeking to promote. Nevertheless, it will be apparent from what I have said that my Department has at all times acted speedily and positively in this case and we will continue to do so. The Deputy can, therefore, be assured that once the archaeological impact assessment is received in the Department it will be looked at immediately with a view to a decision on the consent application being made as soon as possible afterwards.

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. The funding for the art gallery is very welcome. His comment that the decision on the consent application being made as soon as possible afterward makes me anxious that we could lose another tourism season. The castle has been closed for two seasons and I ask that the decision be made as speedily as possible.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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It will depend on to the archaeologist who lodged the consent application on behalf of the town council submitting an archaeological assessment. I assure the Deputy that when it comes before me, I will sign off on it immediately. It is important that she contacts Athlone Town Council and ensures the matter is attended to immediately and that the impact assessment is conducted in an appropriate fashion and the form returned to the Department immediately. I will adjudicate on it and there will be no further delay. It is very much in the hands of the archaeologist and Athlone Town Council.