Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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69. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 3 April 2025, if officials from the OPW inspected the hedgerow prior to these works being carried out and since the works have been carried out; and if so, the way in which this can be presented as standard practice rather than destruction. [17692/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Beltany Stone Circle, NM 463 is in State ownership.

As the Deputy is aware, the Office of Public Works inspected the vegetation along the walkway following a complaint from a member of the public. Following a site inspection by staff from the Dromahair National Monuments Depot, the area was found to be significantly overgrown. It predominantly featured gorse, briars, dead grass and fallen branches. It was in this context that a contractor was engaged to cut back the overgrown gorse and briars and remove storm damaged branches.

It is the OPW's intention to plant native Irish species in the area of these hedgerows, to encourage biodiversity and habitat enhancement. I have asked my officials to prioritise this work before the end of April 2025.