Vol. 535 No. 5
66 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made to date by the interdepartmental committee considering the development of the Battle of the Boyne site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12931/01]
On 8 January 1998, my predecessor as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrews, announced that the Government was examining how best to encourage and facilitate an understanding of the Battle of the Boyne and an appreciation of the environment in which it took place. Subsequently, an inter-departmental committee, chaired by a senior official of my Department, was formed with a mandate to bring forward detailed proposals for Government on the matter.
In November 1999, the Government agreed, on the recommendation of the committee to: a series of interim measures relating to the accessibility of the site; the purchase, in principle, of the lands and development of the Battle of the Boyne site; ask the committee to draw up comprehensive long-term proposals for the development of the battle site; and the immediate appointment of a project co-ordinator.
On 3 August 2000, the purchase of the Oldbridge Estate was completed by the Office of Public Works. The committee also engaged a firm of specialist consultants to undertake a study and report on: physical-spatial planning; infrastructure and facilities; access and circulation; site presentation; historic landscape protection; and signage and management issues.
The study included a wide ranging consultation process which included the placement of advertisements in newspapers, North and South, inviting individuals and groups to make submissions to them in regard to the study. A number of information meetings were also arranged in Belfast and Derry.
The consultants report is being finalised at present and I understand it will be presented to the interdepartmental committee within the next few weeks. It will then be considered by the committee who will bring forward comprehensive proposals for decision by Government .
In addition to the above, the Department of Archaeology, University College Dublin was commissioned to undertake an archaeological study of the battle site, and that report will assist in the overall approach to the planning and presentation of the site.
Other action taken over the last year includes: the establishment of a local office; architectural condition surveys of estate buildings completed; archive-library material being assembled; and local community consultation ongoing.
