Vol. 542 No. 2
432 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason the road to An Grianán is closed from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and if she will make a statement on the plans to be implemented at this site after the meeting between Donegal County Council and her officials. [24227/01]
Over the summer months my Department completed essential remedial works at An Grianán of Aileach to repair damage to the monument which resulted from vandalism earlier in the year. To facilitate this work and prevent further damage to the monument my Department secured from Donegal County Council a temporary closure of the access road leading to the car park at the monument. This meant that access to the car park was limited to the periods 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays. Visitors who wished to access the monument outside of these periods could do so by walking from the access road.
With the putting in place of these arrangements my Department has reported a considerable improvement in the condition of both the monument itself and indeed the remainder of the site with no reports of any damage being caused by vandalism. It was for this reason that my Department sought and has received the approval of Donegal County Council to have the temporary road closure extended until March 2002. I can confirm that during this period access to the site for visitors will be during the hours 8.30 a.m. to sundown Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to sundown on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. In seeking to restrict access to this site to daylight hours my Department's only concern is the long-term security and stability of an unique monument.
