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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 4

Written Answers. - National Monuments.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

330 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands when it is planned to install stairs in Portumna Castle, County Galway. [30504/01]

Paul Connaughton

Question:

331 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason work has ceased on the restoration of Portumna Castle, County Galway; and when it is planned to resume work. [30505/01]

Paul Connaughton

Question:

332 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the expenditure at Portumna Castle, County Galway for 1989. [30506/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 to 332, inclusive, together.

An oak-steel stairway is currently under construction in the castle and will be completed by the end of this year, well in advance of the 2002 visitor season. As the Deputy may already be aware, the question of fully restoring Portumna Castle was considered by the consultants engaged by my Department to prepare the draft management plan for the Portumna Estate. The consultants recommended conservation of the castle itself rather than its full restoration. The reasons for this are to avoid conjecture in any such restoration; the need to study, preserve and present the fabric that does survive; and the possibility offered by the building in its current state of creating a unique experience not to be found elsewhere in Ireland. This recommendation has been accepted by my Department and consequently it is not proposed to undertake further restoration works to the castle. As only work of a routine maintenance nature was undertaken at Portumna Castle during 1989, the information sought by the Deputy is not available.
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