Vol. 538 No. 3
92 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made to date by the interdepartmental committee considering the development of the Battle of the Boyne site; if he has satisfied himself that the estate purchased covers the main site of the battle; if the consultant's report has been submitted to the committee; the likely timeframe for the development of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17789/01]
The consultants' report was presented to the interdepartmental committee at its meeting last Friday, 15 June. The committee has begun its consideration of the report and will draw up comprehensive plans for the development of the historic site for consideration by the Government. Until the plans have been prepared and presented to Government I will not be in a position to be precise about the likely timeframe for the development of the site.
As I mentioned in my reply of 30 May 2001, in August 2000 the Office of Public Works on behalf of the Government purchased the Oldbridge estate after receiving advice from military historians and the Orange Order on the matter. I am satisfied from that advice that the Oldbridge estate contains the core of the battle site. Indeed, the archivist of the Orange Order wrote to the Taoiseach expressing his appreciation of the resources committed by the Government and stated "Undoubtedly this Estate encompasses the central portion of the battlefield."
Question No. 93 answered with Question No. 85.
