Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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78. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has any concerns relating to the negative impact on heritage by the central access scheme road project being advanced in Kilkenny City; if he is concerned at the proposed destruction of three properties on Vicar Street in the City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44501/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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An Bórd Pleanála approved this roads scheme in December 2011 under section 51 of the Roads Act 1993. Following an application by Kilkenny County Council, and in consultation with the Director of the National Museum of Ireland, I issued directions to the Council on 5 June 2012 under section 14A of the National Monuments Acts 1930 (as amended) for the carrying out of works of an archaeological nature relating to the scheme.

Subject to the conditions set out in my directions, the buildings at Nos. 20-22 Vicar Street are currently undergoing a thorough assessment to ascertain their archaeological, architectural and historical significance. In conjunction with this, my Department continues to monitor the works involved and a number of site inspections have been carried out in this respect. However, I will not be in a position to make any determination with regard to the significance of the buildings until all the evidence garnered from the building surveys and archaeological investigations at the site has been assembled.