asked the Minister for Finance if he will arrange for the Office of Public Works to immediately examine the Poulnabrone Dolmen in north Clare with a view to taking remedial action to prevent any deterioration of this historic site.
Written Answers. - Clare Historical Monuments.
80.
Poulnabrone Dolmen is not in full State care and accordingly the Commissioners of Public Works are not empowered under the National Monuments Acts to undertake its conservation. Conscious that the monument was deteriorating and failing to make progress on the acquisition of the site the commissioners placed a preservation order on Poulnabrone Dolmen on 21 November 1985 as a necessary preliminary to their appointing themselves guardians of the monument under section 9 (2) of the National Monuments Act, 1930. I have now sanctioned this latter course of action and on making the guardianship order, which will be done without delay, the commissioners will be in a position to undertake whatever works are necessary to the monument to prevent further deterioration.
81.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the present state of preservation of the various sites, buildings and other areas of historic or other significance under the control of the Officer of Public Works in County Clare; the expenditure incurred in the preservation of such sites; and the proposals he has for further preservation orders in County Clare.
There are 32 national monuments in County Clare for which the Commissioners of Public Works have a maintenance responsibility. These range from single structures such as megalithic tombs and stone crosses to larger medieval sites. For the most part these monuments are in a reasonably satisfactory state of preservation. Megalithic tombs, stone forts, crosses and other like structures do not require regular maintenance. The main body of monuments requiring attention from time to time are the abbeys, churches, round towers and castles in full State care. Conservation works are programmed for these monuments as resources permit and having regard to the needs of the monuments in the region as a whole. Major works have been carried out in recent years at Inishcealtra and at Ennis Friary where a guide/information service is now being provided each summer. A sum of £41,238 was expended on the preservation of monuments in County Clare in 1984.
There are 13 preservation orders in force in respect of monuments in County Clare. Further preservation orders will be made if and when it appears to the commissioners that such action is required to safeguard particular monuments in the circumstances laid down in section 8 of the National Monuments Act, 1930, as amended by section 3 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act, 1954.