Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 5

Written Answers. - Access to National Monuments.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

124 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the date of the court case resulting from the efforts of the Office of Public Works to ensure continuing access to Dunsoughly Castle in St. Margaret's, County Dublin; the issues of public interest surrounding this case; and the implications, if any for public access to other national monuments. [5046/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

Dunsoughly Castle is in State ownership since 1914. The National Monuments and Historic Properties Service has a statutory right of access to the castle and is not involved in court proceedings in regard to that matter.

The castle is situated in the middle of privately owned land and the public must cross this land to gain access to it. In recent times, the landowner has limited public access to his land on the grounds of interference with farm activities and third party liability.

The Occupiers' Liability Act, 1994, was introduced to increase the protection for landowners against claims by the public while ensuring that recreational use of land is facilitated to the widest extent possible. This measure has not alleviated the concerns of the landowner at Dunsoughly. The National Monuments and Historic Properties Service is having ongoing discussions with the landowner with a view to resolving the matter but a successful outcome has not yet been reached.