Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2015
665. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will instruct her Department to conclude negotiations and ensure that the heritage structure of Granard Mote in County Longford is concluded without any further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25073/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 662 of 3 February 2015, in which I indicated that my Department and Longford County Council had agreed to adopt a joint approach to the potential acquisition of this national monument for the State and that the Office of Public Works had been asked to enter negotiations with the landowner to establish if agreement could be reached on the proposal. I understand that it has not been possible to negotiate a purchase agreement in the meantime and that the Office of Public Works is continuing to engage with the landowner with the objective of bringing the matter to a conclusion, one way or the other, without further delay. Any negotiations must, of course, continue to be conducted within the confines of the Office of Public Works’ site valuation and the limited capital funding available to my Department and the Council for the proposed acquisition.
I can assure the Deputy, however, that, irrespective of the outcome, this important national monument will remain in my guardianship as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and will continue to enjoy the highest level of protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004.
