Office of Public Works:No money is available to develop the site of the Battle of the Boyne, which was acquired by the State in controversial circumstances three years ago, according to the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The probable cost of developing the Co Meath site as a tourist attraction is about €40 million, according to the OPW, but funding is not available "at this stage". So far, only €212,000 has been spent on minor work, such as a survey of the grounds.
In August 2000 the OPW paid €9.4 million for the share capital of a company, Deepriver Ltd, which owned most of the site. Deepriver, whose shareholders included Mr Tim Collins, a friend of the Taoiseach, paid just €3.43 million for the land in November 1997.
Later that year the minister for foreign affairs, Mr Andrews, announced an initiative to look at developing the site as a gesture of reconciliation between North and South.
The Taoiseach pressed to have the development of the site included in the Government's millennium programme, and the Millennium Committee subsequently made a £500,000 contribution to the project.
Although there were calls at the time for the matter to be referred to the Flood (now Mahon) tribunal, nothing has been heard of the controversy since.
Mr Collins told The Irish Times in 2001 that he never discussed the deal with the Taoiseach.
When the State acquired Deepriver, the Department of Finance recommended that it be liquidated as soon as possible. However, the Comptroller & Attorney General notes in his report that the company is still in existence under another name - Public Property Development Ltd - and is still incurring expenses.
Since 2000, expenses of €55,000 have been paid to cover tax and legal advice and insurance.
