Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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328. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to give serious consideration to acquiring the Balcarrick Martello Tower, Donabate which is a recorded National Monument and heritage site in private ownership that has recently been put up for sale on the open market which is of huge importance to the Donabate and wider Fingal area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68641/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department acquires properties of architectural heritage, which are either of national or strategic importance, from time to time as resources and opportunities allow. Usually this is in the interests of the preservation, conservation and management of such properties. Possible acquisitions, including Balcarrick Martello Tower are considered within the context of available resources which includes public expenditure management considerations, as well as the ongoing maintenance of monuments carried out in State care by the Office of Public Works.

In all cases, my Department assesses potential acquisitions carefully, taking into consideration similar existing properties within the national monument portfolio, any conservation works required, and the cost of acquisition and maintenance over the short and longer term to the Exchequer. Accordingly, my Department is only ever in a position to make a very limited number of acquisitions as all related expenditure must be met from within existing voted allocations.