Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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78. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of the 16 of May 2013, in relation to stonework belonging to the Office of Public Works left on Coillte lands near Tintern Abbey, the original provenances of the material in question; if the material was assessed after coming into the possession of the OPW; the person who authorised its removal from its original locations and its transfer to the OPW depot in Kilkenny; the qualifications this person had to assess the archaeological and architectural significance of the stonework; the person who authorised its transfer to its present location and details of the regulations that cover such removal and re-use of architectural fragments; if the appropriate statutory authorities were notified of the original removal of this material from its original context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28536/13]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Stonework in question was, as indicated in PQ Reply dated 16 May 2013, drawn from a number of different sources, including Kilkenny Co. Council and various non-conservation sections within OPW itself. This stone was offered to OPW National Monuments Service as a building materials resource having regard to its ongoing work in relation to National Monuments in State care.

The assessment of the stone and its possible value in terms of its use in future heritage projects was made by experienced staff working in OPW's National Monuments District, Kilkenny and by OPW's Senior Conservation Architectural staff in Dublin. Ultimately, the decision to accept the stone was based on a judgement of its value to the OPW National Monuments Service in the context of its work on the portfolio of National Monuments in State care and on the economic saving that would be gained by recyling the stone and thus avoiding the necessity of buying from commercial providers to fulfil needs for conservation projects.

The decision to transfer the stone from OPW's Kilkenny National Monuments Depot to its current location on Coillte lands adjacent to Tintern Abbey in Wexford was made by National Monuments conservation staff on the grounds of economy and on the logistical efficiency of maintaining a store of good quality stone in a safe location close to sites where conservation works were likely to require recourse to such stocks.

The material in question does not, in the opinion of professional OPW staff, contain any fragments related to any National Monument site and the appropriate statutory provisions relating to the treatment of such material in the various National Monuments Acts do not therefore apply.