COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

MOTION NO. 8

MOTION: Councillor T. Delaney

That this Committee requests immediate attention from Management regarding Clondalkin's iconic Round Tower and its surroundings which are in a state of neglect e.g. weeds growing from the structure, the unkempt adjoining parkland, the distasteful and out of character concrete block pier which should be in matching stone.

REPORT:

The Round Tower is protected under the Planning and Development Acts; the "Stone Round Tower, Church and Cross" is referred to in the Council’s Record of Protected Structures (R.P.S.) (Map Ref. No. 138) under the County Development Plan 2010 - 2016 - Schedule 2, Record of Protected Structures.

The tower is also a National Monument protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930 – 1994 and is referred to in the Council’s Record of Monuments and Places (R.M.P Ref. DU017-041) County Development Plan 2010 – 2016, Schedule 1.  The tower is located within the Zone of Archaeological Potential established around Clondalkin Village which is subject to statutory protection in the Record of Monuments and Places, established under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994.

The Round Tower is under the control of the Office of Public Works.  As the Round Tower is a National Monument responsibility for its maintenance comes under the National Monuments Section of the Department of Environment,Community and Local Government.  The National Monuments Section  was contacted by formal letter directly with regard to the current condition of the structure and requested to carry out necessary maintenance and repair .  A response was received stating that details were forwarded to the Monument Protection Unit for their direct attention. The Council has again contacted the National Monuments Section and is awaiting a response. 

The area around the Round Tower that is in Council ownership is maintained and cleaned up regularly by the Council.The concrete block pier is a temporary one pending the completion of the Museum proper.