PJ Murphy (Fine Gael)

I wish to draw attention to the condition and structural stability of Ireland's tallest and possibly most iconic monastic round tower, namely, Kilmacduagh in Tierneevin in south County Galway. In documents dating back over 250 years, a slight lean in that round tower was documented. Local archaeologists and local people monitoring the tower have noted a major increase in the lean of the tower over the past 20 years. What is worrying is that, over the past ten years, the rate of increase in the lean has got progressively faster. Local Fine Gael county councillor Paul Killilea has been continuously in contact with the OPW over the past year regarding putting structural supports or the necessary underpinning in place to prevent the catastrophe that would be the collapse of that iconic south Galway structure, but to no avail. On my behalf and on behalf of my colleague, Councillor Killilea, and the people of south Galway, I call on the Minister of State, Kevin Boxer Moran, to intervene and see to it so that, as a matter of urgency, whatever underpinning work or structural supports are necessary are put in place to ensure that no collapse happens in this very important and iconic piece of architecture in south Galway.