Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 May 2024
130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when Ratoo Round Tower in Ballyduff, County Kerry, will be open to the public as no access is currently available to the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19893/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRattoo Round Tower, National Monument 55, is part of an ancient monastic settlement and is important from a national perspective in that it is a fine example of a Round Tower that stands complete, except for a small piece of restoration work in 1881 to repair lightning damage.
The project currently being undertaken at Rattoo is for the conservation of the Tower itself. Pointing works have been completed on the Tower by skilled OPW staff based out of the Killarney Depot. There are currently internal works to be completed, for which Ministerial consent has been obtained. It is hoped that these works will commence before the end of June 2024. The OPW intends to undertake a risk assessment of the site to establish what access, if any, can be safely provided for visitors.
