Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 3 October 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Mid-Year Review of Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Discussion

1:30 pm

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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That is not a matter for me. The Chairman may wish to contact the Office of Public Works as the sourcing of an appropriate building is a matter for it. It may be worthwhile for the Chairman to make the suggestion to the OPW. The factory may well be a suitable venue and it is worth consideration.

The Chairman is correct that we discussed the Hill of Tara in the Dáil yesterday when he and another Deputy raised the matter. He is also correct that he raised the matter previously. A management plan is at draft stage and an online survey was conducted recently to ascertain what people want to be done at the Hill of Tara, the symbolic capital of Ireland. As I mentioned yesterday, a balance must be struck between the conservation perspective and all of the issues that pertain to Meath County Council such as parking. We received approximately 400 responses to the online survey, which will be fed into the conservation management plan. We have a draft plan and we hope to have the matter sorted as soon as possible.

The issue is complex and I have asked my officials to redouble their efforts in this regard. I appreciate the Chairman's forbearance and patience but, as I am sure he will appreciate, because the Hill of Tara is so special, we must ensure the plan that is put in place is appropriate and take into account the sacred nature of the site. I will meet the chief archaeologist to discuss the project over the next coming days. We will discuss where we take the project from here. I appreciate the comments and concerns expressed by the Chairman.