Vol. 537 No. 2
74 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the sites within Inishowen, County Donegal, that come under her Department's care; the plans there are to develop these and other sites on the peninsula; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14559/01]
The national monuments and architectural protection division of my Department has five monuments in its care in the area of the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, the best known of these sites being An Grianán of Aileach. The Deputy will be aware that there has been considerable damage in recent times to this site caused by a number of factors including extreme weather conditions, vandalism and visitors taking stones as souvenirs. Conscious of the importance of this site my Department commenced essential repair and conservation work on site this month. It had been intended that this work would commence in early March but restrictions as a result of the threat from foot and mouth disease prevented this from going ahead until recently. I expect that all necessary work at the site will be completed by the end of August. Other national monuments in the Inishowen area in the care of my Department are Carndonagh Cross, Clonca Church and Cross, Pluck Standing Stone and O'Doherty's Keep. Although there are no planned works for these sites at present, my Department is committed to carrying out routine maintenance work as required.
The islands division of my Department, in 2000, approved a grant of £26,200 to Donegal County Council as 50% of the cost of raising and carrying out improvement works on the causeway providing access to Inch Island off the Inishowen Peninsula. The islands division does not currently have any further plans to develop this island.
