Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2006
516 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason a licence was not granted to Kilkenny Borough Council allowing the council to provide public toilets at The Parade, Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42309/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraKilkenny Castle is a national monument in the ownership of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and under the management of the Office of Public Works. An application by Kilkenny Borough Council for consent under the National Monuments Acts to provide new public toilets on State owned property within the Castle grounds was refused by my Department on 30 June 2006. This refusal was because the proposed works, which included the breaking of a number of new openings in the wall, were considered to constitute an undue interference with a landmark national monument in State ownership.
In response to a notification of new development proposals put forward by the Borough Council under the Planning and Development Acts and Regulations, my Department advised on 30 November 2006 that it is amenable to the removal of the existing public toilets at The Parade on the basis that such removal would have a positive impact on the amenity of the national monument. My Department, in consultation with the Office of Public Works, is willing to continue to discuss with Kilkenny Borough Council the development of mutually acceptable proposals in relation to the Parade and other areas in the vicinity of the Castle, but which will not damage or otherwise interfere with the integrity of the national monument.
