Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 3

Written Answers. - National Monuments.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

265 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if Dúchas has agreed to allow the realignment of Bond Bridge, Maynooth, County Kildare, to take place as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20756/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

As indicated in my earlier reply of 29 May 2001 regarding Bond Bridge, Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, wrote to Kildare County Council on 12 March 2001 outlining its preferred option in relation to works to this historic bridge. That option would retain part of the fabric of the bridge on the site where it was built.

A reply was received from the council on 15 June 2001 declaring its intention to pursue a different option, which would entail the demolition of this historic bridge. A response to this letter issued on 27 June reiterating the appeal to the council to retain part of this structure in situ. A response from the council is awaited.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

266 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she plans to fund the provision of floodlights for various buildings of historical, cultural and architectural interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20757/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

267 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will consider offering the necessary funding to facilitate the floodlighting of Tagadoe round tower and church. [20758/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.

While there is little doubt that floodlighting can often enhance and give dramatic effect to a building the question of whether specific buildings are floodlit is a matter in the first instance for the owner of the property concerned to consider.

With regard to national monuments, the position is that my officials are finalising a set of formal guidelines/criteria which will be applied to all requests for floodlighting at national monuments sites. I expect work on this document to be completed by the end of August with a view to it being published in the autumn.

With regard to possible funding of floodlighting projects, the Deputy will be aware that funding available to my Department in respect of national monuments is primarily earmarked for use at the approximately 750 sites in State care. Given the range of pressures in relation to conservation works at these sites floodlighting would not be a top priority in the drawing up of work programmes or in the allocation of funds. Bearing this in mind, the question of the possible floodlighting of Tagadoe round tower and church will be considered once the guidelines are published.