Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will request the OPW to engage with a group (details supplied) that wishes to improve the tourism experience in its heritage town. [35111/17]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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226. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will request the OPW to provide a second key for an important tourist attraction (details supplied) to improve the local tourism experience. [35123/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is already well aware of the Kells and District Tourism Network and representatives of the OPW Heritage Service have met with the Network, or individual members of it, on a number of occasions. The OPW regards these contacts as beneficial and intends to remain in contact with the Network in relation to relevant issues in the future, including the organising of local Volunteer tours to the St. Columcille’s House Monument from the local Church of Ireland site and in the making of plans to restore public access to the Round Tower nearby.

Currently, access to the St. Columcille’s House site in Kells is controlled through a local keyholder. This reflects the need to maintain control of the site and to avoid a recurrence of the damage and antisocial incidents that have happened in the past. Though the OPW considers that the keyholding system works well and allows bona fide visitors to access the site easily, it is obviously open to suggestions for its improvement and is assessing the position with a view to making the key available in the local Fáilte Ireland tourism office. It does not however propose to make a key available to the Network directly at this time in the interest of maintaining security at the site.