Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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657. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding schemes available for works at Carrowkeel megalithic complex, particularly for a park and turn area; if funding will be made available to the local authority for low-cost works at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19507/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works is responsible for the care and conservation of the Monuments at Carrowkeel and is interested, in the context of a sustainable tourism model, in working with others to develop a good standard public access to the site. However, my Office does not control any land outside the immediate area of the Monuments and is not therefore in a position to either do the work to create the access or provide funding for any project such as the one described by the Deputy.

A number of consultations have taken place between the Office of Public Works and Sligo Co. Council in relation to this issue and they have recently moved to broaden this process to include a number of other relevant stakeholders with the aim of progressing a viable plan. The proposals are still in the preliminary stage however and have not reached a stage where realistic cost estimates have been developed. Once the proposal has reached this stage, the issue of a funding source will be addressed.