Vol. 508 No. 1
723 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the progress to date by her Department to have necessary repairs carried out to an ancient monument (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [18007/99]
The monuments referred to are routinely inspected and any maintenance works required are carried out. They were again recently inspected and found to be in a stable condition and no repairs are necessary at the present time.
724 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if an assessment has been carried out by her Department on the round tower and castle at Aghaviller, Hug ginstown, County Kilkenny; and, if so, when the report will be available and finance allocated for the necessary refurbishment works to commence. [18008/99]
The round tower and church at Aghaviller, Hugginstown, County Kilkenny were recently inspected and were found to be in a stable condition. My Department has no plans to refurbish the round tower or church at this time.
725 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, she has for the protection and sustenance of the monastic settlement at Clonfert, County Galway. [18009/99]
The monastic settlement cathedral at Clonfert, County Galway, is included in the record of monuments and places for County Galway established under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act, 1994. This affords the cathedral legal protection in that I must be given two months notice of any proposal to carry out works on the monument.
The Cathedral remains in use as a place of worship and is owned by the Church of Ireland authorities. It would not be appropriate therefore, for my Department to expend moneys on its upkeep or repair, since the cathedral is in private ownership and the National Monuments Act, 1930, provides that the definition of a monument "does not include any building which is for the time being habitually used for ecclesiastical purposes". However, I understand that the Heritage Council has been examining ways of protecting the monument and in particular, the doorway, the most important feature of the cathedral, being the finest surviving example of Irish Romanesque decoration. Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department will of course, be pleased to offer any relevant advice in this regard.
