Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The OPW's engagement with the Cherrywood SDZ since the start of 2018 has been primarily focused on the measures to be taken in respect of protecting the Tully church national monument site and its associated crosses.  This engagement has been carried out in close partnership with the former Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, now the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This is because that Department is the owner of Tully church on behalf of the State and the archaeological protection team within the Department is key to any discussions about the future of the site.

Throughout the past two years, officials from the OPW and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have maintained regular contact with the developer team at Cherrywood regarding the treatment of the heritage assets in the area that need to be protected. Officials have held a series of discussions with the developers, both formally and in bilateral engagement, on how various aspects of their plans, as outlined in chapter 8 of the Cherrywood SDZ planning scheme, are to be implemented, with particular reference to the monument site.   

The OPW's engagement with the Cherrywood SDZ has been managed by the OPW heritage service's senior conservation architect responsible for the east region, which includes the Dublin area.  The Department's representative has been the corresponding senior archaeologist responsible for that area of the country. The Department has also committed up to two additional archaeologists, who are regularly involved with various aspects of the engagement.

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