Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2015
19. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on Duncannon Fort in County Wexford as an important feature in Duncannon's own cultural heritage; the role her Department plays in preserving and promoting Duncannon Fort, along with its museums and art gallery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16802/15]
View answerDuncannon Fort is a monument of major historical importance, not alone for Duncannon itself and County Wexford but for the whole country.
While part of the site is in my guardianship under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004, it is owned in its entirety by Wexford County Council. The Council operates the sites as a visitor attraction through a body called The Duncannon Trust, which is based at the site and offers tours and organizes a range of events. In accordance with arrangements in regard to all national monuments of which I am guardian, the Office of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of that part of the site in my guardianship. However, the Office of Public Works has no involvement in relation to the provision of visitor or other services at Duncannon Fort.
I understand that Wexford County Council recently drew the attention of the Office of Public Works to a number of monument maintenance and safety issues on the visitor routes at the site and asked for remediation works to be done. This work is now finished.
Wexford County Council also has a Community Employment Scheme based at the site, within buildings that are part of the area in my guardianship. The function of the Office of Public Works in regard to those buildings is, as I have already outlined, to maintain them in accordance with statutory requirements under the National Monuments Acts. As the fabric in the buildings is in relatively good structural condition, I am satisfied that the maintenance obligations of the Office of Public Works in respect of those buildings are fulfilled. However, the buildings are, in the view of the Office of Public Works, unfit for use as a base for the Community Employment Scheme. I understand that a recent independent assessment for the Office of Public Works identified risks arising from the electrical system. The Office of Public Works has therefore had to advise the owner - Wexford County Council - of this and has disconnected the electrical supply. The question of doing work to the buildings to make it suitable for Community Employment Scheme purposes is a matter for the Council, which has been advised accordingly by the Office of Public Works.
Apart from my role as guardian of part of the site, and the resulting maintenance function of the Office of Public Works as outlined above, I have no function in relation to any of the activities on the site or the matters referred to in the Deputy’s Question.
