Mattie McGrath urges OPW to reopen Cair heritage sites
Mattie McGrath spoke about the closure of heritage sites in Cair and criticised mixed messages from the OPW and government over Covid restrictions. He urged the reopening of outdoor areas and tours on a restricted basis while prioritising staff safety and said he will raise the matter with the minister.
Call to reopen sites
The deputy highlighted that the castle site in Cair is closed despite a scenic Swiss cottage on the grounds and argued these outdoor sites could be opened for tours. He said gates should not remain locked and that outdoor viewing of the buildings is possible on a restricted basis.
Local businesses and community
McGrath praised the town's tidy towns group, the care development association and many small community businesses, noting individual milestones including John Quirk Drew's 45 years in business and the Cair House Hotel's 13th anniversary. He said tourists are flocking to Cair and the community has worked to keep the town clean and attractive.
Safety and funding
While urging reopening, he emphasised staff safety and acknowledged that sites may need safeguards for staff. He noted that a stimulus program provides some funding for reopening heritage sites and suggested exploring whether that funding can be availed of to support proposals.
Engagement with government bodies
McGrath criticised mixed messages from the OPW and the government during Covid restrictions and said he will speak to the minister about OPW-managed sites. He also acknowledged other deputies have raised similar issues about sites across the country and closed by thanking the Taoiseach.
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On the same vein, Teachta, the OPW are giving out mixed messages, your government has given out lots of mixed messages since the people have been restricted so much with Covid, and the beautiful town of Cair, and you were there with me some years ago when I was a fellow traveller, obviously Teachta, you know it well, it's a beautiful town, wonderful organisation, tidy towns, care development association, many, many businesses, one of them John Quirk Drew celebrates 45 years in business today, Cair House Hotel 13 years in business yesterday, and many other small community businesses. The castle site is closed, so there's a wonderful artistic and scenic Swiss cottage, surely these sites could be opened, maybe not in the interest of safety of staff, and I want the staff to be safe, and there were wonderful staff in those facilities, surely the sites can be opened themselves outdoors, for outdoor tours, not to have the gates locked, tourists are flocking to Cair, it's a wonderful town, and they have done what other people have told, as it was rubbish, and litter, and clean, and enhancement schemes, wonderful community, community, and indeed, as I said organisations, and the public, surely this site should be all open, on a restricted basis, especially outdoor, the views of those buildings can be seen, thank you. I think Cair is a beautiful town, very picturesque, wonderful streetscape, since the motorway we don't get through it as often as we'd like, but I know that, and I think the stimulus program though, does provide some funding, some funding for the reopening of sites, and heritage sites, so I think we should explore whether, that can be availed of, to enable your proposals, your proposals to come through, and I will talk to the Minister, in respect of the OPW, because some deputies have raised these issues with me, in respect of sites across the country. Thank you Taoiseach. Thank you Taoiseach.
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