Vol. 536 No. 3
213 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason Dúchas appears to have withdrawn from work in Waterford city (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14168/01]
I reject the assertion that Dúchas, the heritage services division of my Department, has withdrawn from Waterford city. Late last year I announced details of a major £100 million capital investment programme in national monuments and historic properties in State care as part of the national development plan. This is a very significant investment, but even so, it will enable me to reach no more than 100 of those properties during the lifetime of the plan.
These properties are spread throughout the country. Waterford city will have three of its monuments included in the programme. The external walls of Reginald's Tower are currently being repointed. At the French Church, there will be improvement to the access followed by conservation works to the structure. The Double Tower will be conserved following the completion of the works at Reginald's Tower. These works commenced in 2000 and will continue into 2002. This latest programme follows on from conservation work to the value of £250,000 in Reginald's Tower and French Church during the last EU tourism operational programme, which in its own right, represented a considerable investment in the conservation and preservation of Waterford's built heritage.
