Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The conservation management plan states the significance of a site and develops the policies necessary to ensure that significance is retained in the long term. Policies arising from it will be aimed at ensuring the long-term preservation of the site balanced with its enjoyment by the public. The steering group has been gathering information about the significance of Tara. It has met six times and it will meet again on 2 October of this year. Deputy Thomas Byrne outlined some of the concerns. The main issues of concern that arise through the visitor surveys include vulnerability of the archaeology and the need to protect it, visitor footfall, car parking and traffic management, the use of the site for recreation by local groups and dog walkers, and the need for an enhanced interpretation strategy for the monuments. Some of the issues listed, namely, car parking and traffic management, are primarily the responsibility of Meath County Council while the OPW has responsibility for day-to-day management of the site and visitor facilities. The Tara conservation management plan steering group is currently translating the issues and concerns into long-term sustainable policies for the site.

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