Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the policy that has been drawn up for the conservation of the walled towns of Clonmel, Cashel and Fethard, County Tipperary; the investment these towns will receive to preserve their special historical status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26297/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Walled Towns Initiative was launched last year to support the conservation of Walled Towns in Ireland including Clonmel, Cashel and Fethard. Over €1.4m was spent on the Initiative in 2007 and I have allocated a further €2m in funding in 2008. This funding is administered independently by the Heritage Council through the Walled Towns Network.

I am advised by the Heritage Council that €150,000 was provided in 2007 under the Initiative to fund a conservation plan, a public realm plan and to carry out capital works in Fethard; €87,000 was provided to fund a conservation plan and a public realm plan in Cashel. Funding towards a conservation plan for Clonmel was allocated but not drawn down in 2007. An additional €252,000 has been allocated under the Initiative for works in Fethard in 2008 and a further €100,000 has been allocated for works in Cashel.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a conservation plan has been drawn up for the site of the passage tomb at Shrough, on Slievenamuck, south of Tipperary town, which dates from neolithic times; if he will undertake such a plan; if not, the way the tomb will be preserved for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26299/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The monument in question is in private ownership, and, accordingly, there is no basis on which I could draw up a conservation plan for it. However, it is included on the statutory Record of Monuments and Places issued for Tipperary South under reference TS073-007 and is thereby protected under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, 1930 to 2004.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a conservation plan has been drawn up for the network of barrows in Emly and Lattin in South Tipperary; if not, the way he will preserve these historic monuments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26301/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The area between Emly and Lattin contains a large number of barrows and ringditches listed on the statutory Record of Monuments and Places. This part of Munster is known to have been intensively occupied in the Bronze Age and the distribution of barrows is particularly dense in this part of the country. As the monuments are in private ownership there is no basis on which I could draw up a conservation plan for them. The monuments are, however, protected under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, 1930 to 2004.