John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 15 November 2011, if he will confirm whether the Office of Public Works paid a local person to act as a keyholder to allow public access to the graveyard and monuments in question; if this arrangement is still in place and, if not, if he will explain how the public can access the site to view the monuments; if he will confirm the date the site was last inspected by the OPW with regard to the maintenance of the monuments; if he will confirm whether the site was inspected by the National Monuments Service prior to its response to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government about the planning application on the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37635/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The site at St. Mary's Church, Thomastown, consists of the ruins of a thirteenth century church and a nineteenth century former Church of Ireland church, currently used as a private dwelling. The nineteenth century church is located within the boundary of the thirteenth century church. Both churches are situated within a walled graveyard. The thirteenth century church is a national monument in State ownership, and is under the care of the Office of Public Works. The nineteenth century church building and graveyard are in private ownership. There is no public access to either the church or the graveyard. OPW has access to the thirteenth century church for the purpose of carrying out maintenance and repair work.

A caretaker is paid by OPW whose primary duty is to report damage or interference to the national monument at St Mary's, Thomastown. The role of the caretaker did not include the provision of public access. At present, there is no access for visitors except by arrangement with the owner. The site was last inspected by OPW on 26 May 2011. Routine maintenance was carried out on 26 and 30 May 2011. The site was inspected by OPW prior to response given to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the planning application to convert the nineteenth century church into a private dwelling.