Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Architectural Heritage.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

830 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has satisfied herself that appropriate and adequate measures are being taken to ensure that preservation and restoration work on Talbots Tower, Kilkenny proceeds with the urgency that its state of repair requires; if an archaeological assessment of the proposed preservation and restoration work on the tower has been carried out by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20954/01]

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

Officials from my Department became concerned with the nature of works being carried out at Talbot Tower and the adjoining wall. As a result, works on site stopped pending an assessment of the condition of the structure. At a site visit by an architect from my Department on 24 August, Kilkenny Corporation officials recognised the conservation issues in relation to this structure and they sought further advice from my Department on how these might be taken account of in the context of the need to stabilise the structure.

A letter from my Department issued to Kilkenny Corporation on 27 September 2001 suggesting an approach which would allow temporary shoring of the structure pending a more detailed conservation assessment.