Vol. 483 No. 5
28 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of national monuments in State ownership that are without access arrangements for people with disability including wheelchair users, old age pensioners and other categories of people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20636/97.
National Monuments in State care are not all accessible to people with disabilities and, having regard to the broad nature of "disability" comprehended by the Deputy's question, monuments accessible to one category of disability would not be so to another. However, where specialist visitor facilities are provided, every effort is made to provide access for such people consistent with the overriding need not to interfere with the integrity of the monument. Where there are restrictions, these are generally adverted to in the free booklet, entitled "Heritage Sites — Opening Hours and Admission Charges" which is published each year for the information of intending visitors by the education and visitor service of my Department.
The national monuments and historic properties service of my Department is acutely conscious of the need to facilitate people with disabilities to view their heritage and, where improvements can be made without damaging the integrity of the monument and at reasonable cost, these will be implemented as resources permit.
