Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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132. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 30 April 2014, the options his Department is considering to repair Dunsany Cross; which expert opinion is his Department talking to; the timeline for when the work will begin to repair the cross; if funding is available for this to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20541/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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While Dunsany Cross is protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004, it is not in my ownership or guardianship as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Therefore, neither my Department nor the Office of Public Works is responsible for its conservation, repair or maintenance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, my Department has undertaken an inspection of the Cross and its former site and has consulted the National Museum of Ireland, the Office of Public Works and Meath County Council in relation to possible repair and long-term conservation options. An assessment by a specialist stone conservator will be undertaken shortly which will entail a full recording of the remains of the Cross, including the plinth, and will set out recommendations in relation to reconstruction, appropriate methodologies and materials and the associated costs. It is not possible at this stage to indicate a likely timescale, costing or funding source for the project.