Vol. 528 No. 1
349 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the contacts her Department has had with local authorities to ensure that proper facilities are available adjacent to our national historic monuments to ensure that tourists, visitors and others can visit such sites in comfort; if she has satisfied herself that proper car-parking facilities, toilet and washing facilities are in such places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29741/00]
Over the ten year period from 1989 to 1999 the emphasis in relation to national monuments and historic properties was the provision of new or improved facilities for visitors at sites in the care of the State. As a result of this emphasis we now have quality facilities for both the general public overseas visitors at more than 70 sites across the country. Examples of the type of facilities provided over the ten year period I refer to, include the new visitor centre at Dún Aonghusa on Inis Mór, the completion of new visitor, restaurant and educational facilities at the Botanic Gardens and the completion of a new pier to improve visitor access to Scattery Island. Full details of all the facilities available at heritage sites in State care are available in the booklet Visitor Information of Heritage Sites of Ireland. I am arranging for a copy of the 2001 edition of this booklet to be sent directly to the Deputy.
