29 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the progress which has been made by the interdepartmental group on the Battle of the Boyne site; when she expects the group to report; the role her Department will play in the development of the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27144/01]

The Deputy will be aware that the interdepartmental committee on the Battle of the Boyne site operates under the aegis of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and is chaired by a senior official of his Department. The committee has been mandated by the Government to bring forward proposals for the long-term development of the Battle of the Boyne site. I understand that the committee has received a report from the planning consultants on the future development of the battle site and is considering the report. It is expected that the committee will submit recommendations to Government shortly.