Written answers
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Department of Finance
National Monuments
12:00 pm
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 31 of 2 December 1987 and 106 of 27 January 1988, the full extent of national monuments, listed sites, buildings or historic ruins in County Kildare which are in the guardianship of the Office of Public Works or otherwise protected by State, to which the public has access under various statutes including the National Monuments Amendment Act 1994; the degree to which the State carries out protective or improvement works in such cases; if the public right of way or right of access to such sites is preserved and protected; the extent to which such rights, if not already established, will be acquired voluntarily or compulsorily; the extent to which Rathcoffey Castle, County Kildare falls within the remit of the Commissioners of Public Works; the extent to which the structure, access thereto and right of way is preserved and protected or will be preserved and protected by the OPW for the purpose of the heritage preservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28012/09]
Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works is responsible for the day to day operational management of some 750 National Monuments in the ownership or guardianship of the State. The following lists these National Monuments in County Kildare.
| Monument | Townland | Status | Access Status |
| Round Tower | Taghadoe | Ownership | Total access |
| High Crosses, Round Tower | Old Kilcullen | Ownership | Total access |
| Round Tower, Church | Oughterard | Ownership | Total access |
| Castledermot Abbey (Fran) | Abbeyland | Ownership | Total access |
| Castle, Church, Cross | Kilteel Upper | Ownership | Limited access through local keyholder |
| Standing Stone | Punchestown Great | Ownership | No access |
| Furness Church | Forenaghts Great | Guardianship | No access |
| Castle | Rathcoffey Demesne | Guardianship | No access |
| Round Tower, Crosses | Castledermot | Guardianship | Total access |
| Castle | Maynooth | Ownership | Access during tourist season |
| St. John's Tower | Skenagun | Guardianship | Access with permission of owner |
| Manorial House | Jigginstown | Ownership | Total access (following the completion of conservation works) |
| Church & Graveyard (Monastic site) | Taghadoe | Ownership | Total access |
| Ringfort | Mullaghreelan (Athy Forest) | Ownership | Total access |
| Grange Castle | Grange West | Ownership | Restricted access |
| Conolly's Folly | Barrogstown West | Ownership | Total access (following the completion of conservation works) |
An annual programme of works is carried out to effect the required maintenance, repairs and conservation measures identified under a systematic inspection programme of Monuments.
The prime function of the State under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004, is the protection and preservation of National Monuments Where a monument in State care is situated on private lands, the Office of Public Works, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government take into account factors, such as safety, impact on adjoining properties, security of the site, etc., when considering trying to obtain access to such monuments.
The gatehouse at Rathcoffey Castle was placed in the guardianship of the State in 1941. The guardianship deed, that conferred on the Commissioners of Public Works the responsibility for the maintenance of the gatehouse structure only, did not include a provision for a public right of way.
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