Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We could certainly look into this. Those are very valid points. This provision does not relate to monuments generally but just to those where the owner agreed to a deed of guardianship. The State cannot break that binding agreement with the owner. The deed, however, can be replaced under a section 72 process. We can certainly, then, consider this proposal. I again note that we are only probably talking about a few hundred out of 180,000 monuments. It is not a huge number, but I take on board the aspect of the ability to access them.

The other issue, if such sites are in private ownership, is that the state of care could be questionable as well in respect of safety. I refer to the perspective where there is an obligation on the State to look after monuments in State care in respect of accessibility, interpretation and the safety of those monuments themselves. This may not always be the case in private sites. This is certainly, however, something to which we can give some further consideration.