Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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295. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update in relation to the completion of a project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23324/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I was delighted to visit Mooghaun Hillfort in May 2015 at the invitation of the Deputy and to see the excellent work carried out to date by OPW staff.

The newly rebuilt viewing platform at Mooghaun Hillfort near Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, was substantially completed in August 2014.

As part of the project, it had been intended that the spiral stair handrail and the balustrade surrounding the platform at a high level would be completed in stainless steel, thus adding to the durability of the structure and minimising the maintenance that would be necessary thereafter.

Some difficulties were encountered with the design and fabrication of the steelwork which only became apparent when the Office of Public Works (OPW) attempted to procure the item from a specialist steel fabricator in mid-2014. In order to resolve the problem in the short term, the OPW installed a quality wooden handrail and baluster as an alternative so that the viewing platform could be opened to the public and sought to resolve the manufacturing difficulty separately. Currently, the OPW is actively trying to source an alternative procurement route for the steelwork, which is a specialist item. It is not possible to say definitively at this stage when the work will be fully completed.

Enhancing the panoramic views will be addressed separately after the additional forest clearance work to open up the desired vistas has been done; at this stage, this is provisionally scheduled for late 2015 and is dependent on appropriate consent from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the National Monuments Acts being secured.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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296. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the provision of signage in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23330/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The two National Monument sites concerned here are Clare Abbey and Killone Abbey. Since conferring with the Deputy a number of weeks ago, the following has been established:

Clare Abbey is in State ownership only as far as its outer wall, and not beyond. The property is therefore effectively landlocked by privately owned land. A new laneway leading to the site was developed as part of the new motorway link road and this is the sole means of public access. This lane leads to a turning /parking area which is part of the private land holding and which is used as a farm access to the land beyond. Any signage in this location will require the owner's agreement; additionally, as the site for the signage lies outside the National Monument boundary, it is likely that planning permission will be required.

Killone Abbey is not in State ownership but is in the Guardianship of the Commissioners of Public Works. Public access to this site is therefore currently at the discretion of the owner. Given that a private landholding is in question, the erection of a sign would need the approval of the owner. Similar to the Clare Abbey case, planning permission may also be required here.

Understanding that there may be a desire to provide directional signage to these locations, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is contacting the separate owners seeking agreement to proceed.

There is currently no interpretative signage content for either of these sites. Having regard to the resources available to the OPW currently, it will not be possible to provide information boards in the short term. However, the OPW will be interested in speaking to any third party that might be prepared to sponsor such boards.

I am aware, having met with local interests on a recent visit to County Clare with the Deputy, that there is significant commitment locally and am happy to have my officials meet to discuss all aspects of this matter further.