Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Conolly folly is a National Monument in the care of the Office of Public Works. 

It is considered that, in recent times, a vehicle of some type struck the boundary iron fence causing the visible damage.  Temporary barriers have been put in place until such time as the necessary repairs to the permanent fence can be undertaken.

The CCTV system on site is a closed circuit system maintained on a bi-annual basis.  OPW has received no reports of malfunction but will make further enquiries in this regard.  Further enquiries, as they pertain to the lighting, are also necessary and have already commenced. 

The general surface area of the space, which includes gravelled pathways, within the remit of the OPW is  maintained by workstaff on a regular basis.  While there is no doubt that restrictions related to COVID-19 impacted greatly on the National Monuments general maintenance program in the last eighteen months, the program has resumed and OPW would consider that the general upkeep of the area of the site within its remit is up to standard.

In the years 2007-2011, approximately €775,000 was expended by the OPW on conservation works at the Obelisk, the vast majority of which related to the Pay of the skilled workstaff involved.