Thomas Byrne
Question:65. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the Hill of Tara and the recent online survey that was conducted. [28766/18]
View answerTuesday, 2 October 2018
Questions (65)
Oral answers (17 contributions)
The question is self-explanatory. The Minister announced a consultation relating to the Hill of Tara with local residents and interested parties last March. I ask for an update on it. When will we see the results of the survey?
My Department is leading a steering group of relevant stakeholders, including the Office of Public Works, Meath County Council, the Heritage Council and the Discovery Programme, to develop a conservation management plan for the State-owned lands at the Hill of Tara. This working group meets regularly and is currently working on a draft of the conservation management plan. The new plan will inform a list of priority conservation and site management actions and measures for the lands that are in State ownership and inform future interventions on the site, aided by the ongoing monitoring of visitor numbers by the OPW.
The online survey was available to the public between 21 March and 15 May and I am pleased to note that it received approximately 400 submissions. It was undertaken for my Department by the Heritage Council and was widely advertised online and through social media by the organisations engaged with the steering group. The survey was designed to identify what members of the public value most about the Hill of Tara, what they perceive as the issues with the site and what they suggest needs to be done to preserve it for the future. The results of the public survey will help to inform the conservation management plan and will, therefore, be a very valuable input. The results will be made available as an appendix to the plan when it is published. The survey responses show clearly that Tara means many things to many people and that the perceptions of the site vary from it being an accessible amenity and recreation area for surrounding communities, to it being a site that attracts many visitors and tourists from around the globe and a place of great heritage significance and symbolism.
When finalised, the conservation management plan will identify conservation priorities for the site and guide future investment decisions in visitor and interpretation facilities that are compatible with its international standing and significance. The plan will address on-site archaeological and natural heritage protection and outline actions to mitigate its vulnerabilities and promote its conservation for future generations.
I am glad that many people contributed to the survey, including undoubtedly many of my constituents. The priorities of my constituents are the same as my own. As the Minister mentioned, one priority is to recognise the international and Irish importance of this site. Another is to recognise that this has been a community of people since the dawn of time, one which continues today. We are not looking for a repeat of the Tara Skryne landscape conservation plan which generated so much anger in the local community without delivering any benefit for the site. Apart from the preservation of the site, which the Minister needs to provide for urgently, what people want most is for basic facilities to be provided at the Tara site. Some of these would be the responsibility of the Department and the Office of Public Works, while others would be the responsibility of Meath County Council. I welcome the establishment of a steering group but it cannot become a talking shop. It must deliver results for the Hill of Tara and the surrounding community, who love it and know it best.
Sorry-----
Éist leis an gcéad fhreagra agus ansin cuir an cheist.
The conservation management plan states the significance of a site and develops the policies necessary to ensure that significance is retained in the long term. Policies arising from it will be aimed at ensuring the long-term preservation of the site balanced with its enjoyment by the public. The steering group has been gathering information about the significance of Tara. It has met six times and it will meet again on 2 October of this year. Deputy Thomas Byrne outlined some of the concerns. The main issues of concern that arise through the visitor surveys include vulnerability of the archaeology and the need to protect it, visitor footfall, car parking and traffic management, the use of the site for recreation by local groups and dog walkers, and the need for an enhanced interpretation strategy for the monuments. Some of the issues listed, namely, car parking and traffic management, are primarily the responsibility of Meath County Council while the OPW has responsibility for day-to-day management of the site and visitor facilities. The Tara conservation management plan steering group is currently translating the issues and concerns into long-term sustainable policies for the site.
I agree with the list of priorities the Minister outlined. They are what we need but we also need the action to follow the words. I will continue to press the Minister and her Department to deliver on the plan.
I have one concern relating to the Minister's reply. She mentioned that Meath County Council is responsible for parking and roads. That may well be factually the case in terms of its responsibility outside the site but I somewhat disagree about parking. I am not sure how the council is responsible for parking although it is certainly responsible for roads. What has happened on the Hill of Tara for a number of years is that we have heard one area is the responsibility of the Government through Meath County Council, something else is the responsibility of the OPW and another area again is the responsibility of the Department. A single-track approach is required. I am confident that is being led by the Minister currently, but I am concerned about an element of passing the buck that is beginning to creep into the debate. That cannot happen. The Minister's words today, which I by and large agree with, must be met with resources. This is our most important heritage site. It is beautiful and is steeped in the lore of this country. The site is so valued by people all over the world that we must do it right. The situation at Tara is shameful compared to Newgrange and many other monuments all around the country.
Deputy Thomas Byrne is favourably disposed towards sharing his supplementary questions with Deputy Tóibín.
Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an Teachta faoi sin. I raised this issue with the Minister last January. At the time I tried to impress upon her the importance of the Hill of Tara in historical and archaeological terms and in terms of the Irish psyche. A quarter of a million people and 1,000 buses go to the Hill of Tara every year. Last January we had the same type of conversation and the situation has not moved on in the meantime. Virtually no progress has been made on the Hill of Tara.
A survey is being carried out currently. I am told a traffic survey was carried out last weekend. However, it was done after the summer season ended so the figures will not be reflective of the amount of people who go up on the hill during the summer. I believe a local business person and private individuals are running the car parks at the site. One of the car parks was closed over the weekend, which caused chaos in the system there.
Currently the council has no real development plan for the Hill of Tara. The site is only functioning through the hard work and dedication of the local community. The situation there is currently a disaster.
I call on the Minister to respond.
The glacial pace of the Department in physically resolving any of the issues is shocking.
I do not accept the comments on the situation not progressing at all. The steering group has met six times. It is chaired by the chief archaeologist of the National Monuments Service. A draft plan has already been produced and a plan will be ready by the end of 2018. The steering group is anxious to finalise the policies by that deadline. Any delay in meeting the deadline will be necessitated by ensuring the quality of the policies and their long-term sustainability. The draft plan outlines the methodologies of the plan, its strategic objectives and the consultation process. It states the significance of Tara, which both Deputy Byrne and Deputy Tóibín pointed out. It is the symbolic capital of Ireland. We accept that and that is why the work has to be done in such a way that it balances the protection of the site as well as managing the traffic, which is primarily the responsibility of Meath County Council. However, the issue needs to be examined. The plan contains policies for the conservation of the site as well. The policies and implementation strategies have not yet been agreed but the group is currently discussing those issues with the aim of finalising the plan by the end of 2018. I will meet with the group on 2 October 2018.
Could the Minister ensure constituency Deputies meet with the group as well?
Deputy Byrne can contact my office at any stage. I am open to meeting groups if it is possible to schedule a meeting.
It is in a mess. I was there about three weeks ago.
Except for film workers.
The Hill of Tara is an iconic and unique place and is the centre of a pre-eminent kingship and one of our ancient royal sites, but it has to be protected. We must look after the people who live there as well as protect the sacredness, if one likes, of the site. That is really important. We have moved on and we are making progress.