Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2004
535 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the Office of Public Works plans for a development (details supplied) in north Tipperary; the amount of funding in place for this project; when work will commence on this project; the reason for the delay in this project; if he will meet with the local group involved in promoting the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31330/04]
View answerThe Office of Public Works is carrying out conservation works at the site referred to in the question. Some €27,000 has been spent so far this year. Further work, involving the refurbishment of adjoining houses, was planned by the OPW but it was not pursued because the ownership of the houses has yet to be transferred to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Outline plans for the provision of new visitor facilities which includes, inter alia, acquiring and refurbishing the adjoining houses for the purposes of providing access to the site, have been prepared. I am considering the plans in the context of other demands on the Department’s built heritage capital works programme, having regard to the long-term viability of the project. I will be happy to meet with the local group involved in this regard.
