Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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210. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions being taken by his Department to make Dame Lane more aesthetically pleasing and welcoming in relation to the Dublin Castle-owned property and walls. [41403/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The current state of Dame Lane is not satisfactory, given its close proximity to the main entrance to Dublin Castle. The Lane is, of course, under the management of Dublin City Council (DCC) and its regeneration and the improvement of its appearance will require close cooperation between the Commissioners of Public Works and the City Council.

Suggestions on potential enhancements and improvements in the Palace Street entrance area, including Dame Lane, are included in the Dublin Castle Strategic Framework Plan which can be found at www.dublincastle.ie/strategicframeworkplan/.

These potential developments would require more detailed consideration and would be subject to planning permission and availability of funding. However, the OPW is committed to the continuous care and enhancement of Dublin Castle, one of our most important civic building. This includes working with DCC to improve the boundary areas of the campus.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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211. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions being taken to reduce the hostile architecture on Castle Street and Ship Street to make it more welcoming and safe, namely by reducing the height of the tall surrounding walls (details supplied). [41404/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The walls to which the Deputy refers are the historic boundary walls of the Castle and for reasons of security and conservation it is not envisaged that they could or should be entirely removed.

However, as part of the Dublin Castle Strategic Framework Plan which sets out potential works over the coming decade, it was considered that a new pedestrian bridge could be opened between the Castle complex through the walls and connecting to St Werburgh's church and graveyard. This bridge would cross the 40 steps and serve to ameliorate the somewhat forbidding appearance of the Castle walls.

Consideration was also suggested to restoring and reconstructing the facade of the walls in order to make the streetscape in this area of the Castle boundary more welcoming.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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212. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans and current use for buildings on Ship Street Great, which currently have smashed windows and appear derelict. [41405/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I understand that five historic windows in Block M, Dublin Castle, which backs onto Ship Street Great, have been removed and replaced with plywood. This is part of an ongoing important conservation and refurbishment project for this range of buildings. When complete, Block M will house the Electoral Commission. I can assure the Deputy that these works are in the final stages and due for completion in the coming weeks. Upon completion the windows will be reinstated and the plywood removed.