Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014
232. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a decision has been made regarding a plan to develop a car park near a national monument (details supplied) in County Galway to facilitate the tourists visiting the site, if discussions are ongoing with a landowner pertaining to a right of way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43299/14]
View answerThere are no proposals currently for a new carpark to be provided at the Dún Aonghusa site on Inis Mór.
Dún Aonghusa is an extremely popular tourist destination and attracted 105,539 visitors in 2013. During busy summer months in particular, this causes a certain amount of congestion at the site, particularly on the private access road leading from the nearby public road to the visitor building. The Office of Public Works recognises this issue and has commissioned engineers to design an integrated traffic management plan for the roadway which will ensure that any congestion is minimised. Work on this will be completed in advance of the summer visitor season in 2015. Any traffic management issues relating to the public roadway are not a matter for OPW and any infractions which occur should be reported to An Garda Síochána.
Separately, OPW is in discussion with a local landowner in relation to a renewal of Right of Way arrangements leading from the visitor building to the National Monument site. The current arrangements are due to expire shortly and OPW is in negotiation with the individual concerned on the terms for its renewal.
