Written answers
Wednesday, 1 May 2024
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Heritage Sites
Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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129. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a start date has been agreed for the commencement of remedial works on Cairn T at the Loughcrew heritage site near Oldcastle, County Meath; if he can confirm the plan and schedule for the re-opening of Cairn T to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19626/24]
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The megalithic passage tombs of Loughcrew Megalithic Cemetery are an extraordinary part of our national heritage that are particularly vulnerable and require careful conservation and management. In recent years structural concerns have emerged at Cairn T. Visitors are not permitted on top of the cairns, due to concerns for the structure).
OPW held constructive meetings on site and conducted subsequent discussions with the National Monuments Service of the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to agree details of the actions that needed to safeguard Cairn T.
Detailed design proposals regarding safe access for OPW, consultants and contractors has recently been finalised by our conservation specialist Structural Engineer. Ministerial Consent for this proposal has been granted by DHLGH.
The temporary additional support for the interior of the Cairn will allow safe access for our architects, engineer and District Works in-house stone masons. This will then allow a review of structural concerns and definition of the agreed approach and scope required to progress remedial works, and safeguard the Cairn into the future. The issue of future public access will be reviewed once the Cairns structural stabilisation project is complete.
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when Ratoo Round Tower in Ballyduff, County Kerry, will be open to the public as no access is currently available to the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19893/24]
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Rattoo Round Tower, National Monument 55, is part of an ancient monastic settlement and is important from a national perspective in that it is a fine example of a Round Tower that stands complete, except for a small piece of restoration work in 1881 to repair lightning damage.
The project currently being undertaken at Rattoo is for the conservation of the Tower itself. Pointing works have been completed on the Tower by skilled OPW staff based out of the Killarney Depot. There are currently internal works to be completed, for which Ministerial consent has been obtained. It is hoped that these works will commence before the end of June 2024. The OPW intends to undertake a risk assessment of the site to establish what access, if any, can be safely provided for visitors.
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