Eleven years ago, a reply was given by a Minister of State in this Chamber that the works at Rattoo Round Tower in Ballyduff in north Kerry, which were being undertaken at that time, included conservation and repair, working on the exterior and then moving on to the interior. The works are continuing to this day and great work is being carried out by the national monuments depot works section, which is based in Killarney and in general does excellent work. However, the pace of the work is incredible and there is deep frustration in the Ballyduff area that this magnificent round tower, which has an unbelievable history going back 1,000 years, has remained closed for the past 15 years. Back in 2015, there were a few jobs to be done. The lightening conductor was being reinstalled and there were some other minor projects and it was promised at that time that some new interpretation would be made available on the site. I am not sure that the Office of Public Works, the Department or the Government realise the significance of this former ecclesiastical site. I met some German tourists there last year who came to Ireland to see two sites. One was Clonmacnoise and the other was Rattoo Round Tower, so on an international archeological basis, this is of huge significance. At one stage, the site contained the 1,000-year-old round tower, which is probably the best preserved in Ireland and the only round tower remaining in Kerry, an abbey and a hospital and, according to a local schoolteacher, a harp school of music operated there going back to the 1600s. As I said, the site has been closed for 15 year while these works are being carried out. Internal works have been completed and I am told there was a promise going back to the 1980s to reopen the site with an interpretative centre. In an area like Ballyduff, which some people feel has been neglected - there is a totally inadequate wastewater system there, for example - there is all the more reason for them to feel that the untapped tourism and historical potential is not being addressed. People are frustrated. The round tower could be the centre of a tourism project that would boost the village because it is just off the Wild Atlantic Way and employment, including secondary employment, could be created there. However, because of the scaffolding that surrounds the bottom of the round tower, it is a building site. People are not even allowed to go in and walk around the base of the structure. I am asking that the Government do one of two things, either build a platform so the inside can be accessed or, if it will not do that, remove the scaffolding so people can be allowed access around the base of the tower so it can be viewed properly. In the meantime - and this is an easy request; going back to the 1980s, as I said, there was to be extra interpretation - will the Government put some information signage with QR codes so the history, which is unknown to many people, can be explained? Will it link in with local people to source the local history? I suggest that the site be opened either for the Ballyduff Summer Festival, which will take place in June, or for Heritage Week, which will take place in August. The time for delaying this is over. It has gone on long enough and I ask the Minister of State to make it a priority.

Sentiment score: 0.16

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am glad minds have been concentrated and I hope they will remain concentrated after today. I hope the Minister of State will go back to the Department. I asked a parliamentary question about this matter a year ago and the reply indicated that a reassessment of risk and public safety access would be prepared. I understand from the Minister of State's reply, which I thank him for, that the OPW will issue a full report following the completion of the works, which should be soon. It is all a question of priorities at this stage. Given the length of time we have been dealing with this - the works have gone on for 15 years, but the OPW and Department have been looking at this and considering various interpretative centres around the area for 40 years probably - the least the people of Ballyduff deserve is that the report be prioritised and expedited as quickly as possible so the tower can be opened. The report will allow the access structure or whatever alternatives there are, to facilitate the reopening as soon as possible. It is not a lot to ask. The internal works have been completed. There is a platform inside. The door is 9 ft off the ground so when people go in they are on a platform. I think the lime-washing has been completed. If it is just a question of preparing a report regarding safety and the completion of the works, can that be done? Then, perhaps the centre could be open in time for the June bank holiday weekend, when the Ballyduff summer festival is on, or as the Minister of State hinted, it could be open for Heritage Week in August. That would be greatly appreciated after all this time.

Sentiment score: 0.26