Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to develop and refurbish facilities at Doe Castle, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33093/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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There are no plans to undertake any major conservation work at Doe Castle, County Donegal. A comprehensive programme of conservation work was undertaken at the castle during the period 1996 to 2001. This involved a major restoration of the medieval tower house to provide a suitable indoor location on the site for the important MacSweeney grave slab. All works carried out in the intervening period have been of a routine, maintenance nature.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply but am disappointed with his negative response. I do not know how familiar he is with Irish history but Doe Castle has been associated with many major events over the past 400 or 500 years. It was built in the early 1500s. Red Hugh O'Donnell, who was one of the most important people to come from Donegal and was known as the fighting prince of Donegal, was fostered there. When the Spanish Armada was wrecked in 1588, survivors of the disaster found shelter and protection in Doe Castle. Owen Roe O'Neill, on his return from Spain in 1641, landed at Doe Castle and began his conquest of Ulster from there. When one takes all of these things into consideration, the castle is probably the most historic building surviving in Donegal, if not in Ireland. There is one major investment required, to re-roof the great hall.

Doe Castle is already a great tourist attraction. Approximately 5,000 people per month visit the castle, the seat of the MacSweeney family, during the summer season. If the castle were re-roofed, there would be a triangle of attractions in the area, namely Doe Castle itself, the Glenveagh Estate, in which the State has invested heavily and which attracts 100,000 visitors per annum, and the Glebe Gallery, bequeathed by Derek Hill. If the main hall of the castle were re-roofed, it would generate enough finances to make the castle self-sufficient.

I urge the Minister of State to have a sympathetic look at this project. In two year's time we will commemorate the Flight of the Earls. The year 2007 is the fourth centenary of that event. The earls did not leave Doe Castle but the nearby village of Rathmullan and while the main celebrations will be in Rathmullan in 2007, there is no reason we should not have a banquet to mark the departure of the earls in Doe Castle. That can only be done, however, if the great hall is re-roofed. I urge the Minister of State and the Minister to provide funding of €200,000 to complete the job. I would then welcome them both to the official opening, even if nobody else in the House would do so.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Deputy not going to ask me to do a detailed cost-benefit analysis?

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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He has done one already.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of the analysis would be €200,000.

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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Deputy Paul McGrath could do some extrapolations too.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, should agree to this before he leaves the Office of Public Works.

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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I agree with Deputy McGinley that Doe Castle has a fine history. The castle has been vacant since 1890. The Land Commission took it over in 1932 and the Office of Public Works took charge of it in July 1934. The national monuments section of the OPW undertook an extensive programme of conservation work on the site, including a major restoration of the medieval tower house which is the primary structure associated with the castle, and the conservation of the MacSweeney grave slab. This programme of work was completed in 2001. The medieval tower was roofed with Irish oak and stone slates. Oak floors were fitted along with an oak staircase which provides access to the upper levels of the castle. A key holder allows visitors to access the castle.

Deputy McGinley referred to the fact that Doe Castle receives 5,000 visitors per month, although I am not sure if his figures are correct. Donegal Castle has approximately 50,000 visitors per annum and Glenveagh is also a major tourist attraction in the area. There is no further funding available under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. If the provision of further facilities are to be considered, it would be a matter for the successor of the NDP and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am sure the Deputy will make a case to him in that regard.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I will. Unless the castle is reroofed, it will crumble. When we eventually get around to carrying out the major work of reroofing the great hall, it will have deteriorated and will cost much more. In other words, a stitch in time saves nine.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Having stood for so long, suspicions of its imminent demise might be a little exaggerated.