Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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279. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will consider the purchase of a property (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9677/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My role, as Minister, with regard to the protection and management of our built and natural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets.

Given the many competing priorities for funding the national heritage, resources are not available from my Department at this time to consider the purchase of the estate and lands outlined.

I understand that situated on the lands in question are the ruins of a small castle of the 15th or 16th centuries, along with two other archaeological sites - an enclosure marked on 19th century mapping of which no surface trace now survives and a fulacht fiadh. All of these monuments are protected under the National Monuments Acts and, while the tower house is a monument of significant interest, the advice available to me indicates that it would not be appropriate for acquisition to form part of the portfolio of national monuments in State care.