Vol. 549 No. 3
337 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason an area (details supplied) in County Meath has been fenced off for months preventing access to visitors; when these restrictions will be lifted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6483/02]
The area referred to by the Deputy contains national monuments which are not owned by the State but rather are in guardianship. This means that while the site is afforded legal protection in accordance with the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, it remains in private ownership. In this instance the landowner remains reluctant, following last year's foot and mouth crises, to permit the public to access his lands.
While we must respect the rights of the landowner with regard to his property my officials have been in contact with him to seek to address his concerns and at the same time allow the public to access the monuments. These contacts have not been successful to date but I can confirm that efforts will continue to be made to once again make the monuments in question accessible to the public.
