Office of Public Works

Wednesday, 8 May 2024

Questions (161)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

161. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 5 December 2023, if he has engaged with the local authority in respect of the future use of the building and/or the transfer of same to the local authority (details supplied); the date on which the OPW last made a site visit to the building and/or conducted a review of the structural integrity of the building; and if the OPW has been consulted in respect of plans for amenity development in the general surrounds of the structure. [20114/24]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

Bray Head Church, also known as Raheen-A-Cluig Church, Newcourt, Bray, Co Wicklow is a National Monument, protected by the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014 and in the Guardianship of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is already in the ownership of Wicklow County Council. Any change to the Guardianship arrangement of the site is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage whose Minister holds title.

The Office of Public Works is responsible for the protection and care of over 780 National Monument sites. It's primary role is for the maintenance, conservation, preservation and presentation of these sites.

I wish to advise the Deputy that a preliminary meeting was held recently at which representatives from the Office of Public Works, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage attended. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss plans for amenity development in the general surrounds of the structure.

OPW workstaff visit the site on a regular basis as part of their routine maintenance checks with the last visit being on the 16th of April last.