Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
59. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on plans for an OPW site (details supplied) following a meeting on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39685/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works has responsibility for the conservation, maintenance, management and presentation of 780 National Monuments in State ownership or guardianship. The OPW conserves and protects the monuments in ownership and guardianship at Rathcroghan working on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
As the Deputy knows, the Rathcroghan complex is a collection of 240 identified archaeological sites, contained within an area of 6.5km², in which approximately 60 are in the ownership or guardianship of the State. There are 79 acres in State ownership. Monuments include Stone Age tombs, royal burial mounds, ringforts and places of ceremonial inauguration with the largest site south of N5 at Rathcroghan Mound, 4 km north of Tulsk. Rathcroghan is part of the Royal Sites of Ireland UNESCO Tentative bid for World Heritage Status which also includes Cashel, Hill of Uisneach, the Hill of Tara Complex, managed by the OPW in addition to Dún Ailinne, Co. Kildare and Emain Macha, Co. Armagh. Representatives from the OPW attend meetings of the Royal Sites of Ireland Working Group on a regular basis and engage as necessary with all relevant stakeholders. This has included meetings on site to facilitate familiarisation of the Rathcroghan sites in the care of the OPW. It is fully supportive of the bid and if it is successful, it will continue to work with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the relevant Local Authorities and community groups to ensure the protection of these landscapes into the future.
As part of the OPW's general remit, a regular and ongoing programme of maintenance including stone wall repairs, tree maintenance, general landscaping and fencing is undertaken at the sites in the ownership or guardianship of the State. The OPW strives, under it’s remit to ensure that the Monuments are protected for future generations by careful management of the complex and will continue to work with our colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and engage as appropriate with the Rathcroghan community and Roscommon County Council. This is necessary in order to support local stakeholders in their endeavours. I wish to advise the Deputy that, at this time, the OPW has no plans for development on the lands in State care.
