Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works has any plans to provide toilet facilities at a tourist attraction (details supplied) in County Donegal; if an assessment has been carried out as to the feasibility of providing toilet facilities; if the Office of Public Works has examined the possibility of providing a café or other tourist reception infrastructure close to the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30091/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Grianan of Aileach is a National Monument which attracts large numbers of visitors. While there is a Council owned carpark at the base of the Grianan, the Office of Public Works (OPW) does not currently provide a guide service or visitor facilities at the site. Further development within the area in the care of the OPW, the footprint of the monument, would not be possible as the entire hill is archaeologically sensitive and no ground disturbance could be allowed.

The Grianan, unfortunately, also suffers from a significant amount of anti-social behaviour and it is not considered appropriate to provide stand alone facilities such as toilets at the site. However, in the context of the Wild Atlantic Way project, the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland and other relevant partners are currently examining how best to meet the needs of visitors to unattended National Monument Sites, such as the Grianan, along the entire Wild Atlantic Way route.