Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

72. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide year round visitor access to the cairns at Sliabh na gCailleach, Loughcrew, County Meath. [13268/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the collection of sites which form the Loughcrew National Monument complex near Oldcastle, Co. Meath.

Currently, the OPW opens the Loughcrew site fully to the public on a seasonal basis only, with Guides being provided from the Bru na Boinne Centre based in temporary hut accommodation at the site and this year, the site will be open from 2 June to 31 August. In addition to the normal seasonal opening, Loughcrew also opens on a temporary basis on the equinox dates, (March & September – 3 mornings on each occasion) when it attracts particularly large crowds anxious to witness the phenomena created by the alignment of the main Cairn with the Sun.

The OPW has no plans currently to provide Guided services and open the Loughcrew site on a year round basis. Visitors wanting to visit the site off season can do so freely and caretaking and keyholding arrangements are in place for those who want to access the interior of the Monuments themselves. Parties who wish to do this may do so by applying to the local keyholder and a substantial number – about 2,000 separate requests during last year – can do so without any difficulty.