It is not proposed to review the reply to Question No. 395 of 15 October 2002. My Department seeks to provide a quality service to Dáil Members in replying to parliamentary questions across the entire range of its functions and will continue to do so.
Details of total payments to the contractor referred to in the question in 1999, 2000 and 2001 are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly. The works have been carried out satisfactorily.
The vehicles in Kilkenny depot were repainted following a tender competition in 1998. The contract was awarded to the lowest tenderer. There has been no noticeable deterioration in the paintwork since and an inspection is not planned. My Department is not aware of any conflict of interest in the awarding of these contracts.
An independent review of Dúchas was carried out in 1998 and, following the recent reallocation of departmental responsibilities, an internal review is taking place within my Department with a particular focus on the organisation of heritage functions. A full reply to the correspondence dated 27 August 2002 referred to in the question will issue shortly.
I wish to record my appreciation of the fine work that is being done by Dúchas in protecting and conserving our national monuments. There are more than 120,000 officially recorded monuments throughout the country in the record of monuments and places. Of these, 740 are in State ownership. Over the period of the current national development plan, the funding available allows capital conservation works at about 100 sites. The sites and visitor attractions managed by Dúchas are a valuable asset to this country both in terms of promoting tourism and providing an insight into the rich tapestry that is the history of this nation.
