Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The State acquired ownership of the national monument at 14 to 17 Moore Street in July 2015. The aim was to get conservation work under way as speedily as possible with a view to having the proposed 1916 commemorative centre opened during the centenary year. My Department concluded a tendering process that had been initiated when the property was under lien by the National Asset Management Agency. The tenders sought related to proposals for the conservation and restoration of these buildings, for which consent had been given by my predecessor under section 14 of the National Monuments Act in April 2014. My Department subsequently awarded a contract to carry out these works after a detailed assessment, including a process audit, multi-criteria analysis and independent legal advice. My Department established a steering committee to guide the project. The committee includes representatives of the Office of Public Works and the National Museum of Ireland.

The skilled workforce employed by OPW Heritage Services is focused on the care and maintenance of national monuments in State care. These include iconic sites such as Newgrange, Clonmacnoise, the Rock of Cashel and Skellig Michael. The key skills and strengths of OPW lie in the conservation of ancient fabric and structures in such places.

I am advised that in cases where works to heritage buildings of more recent origin are concerned, for example, the recently-completed visitor centre at Kilmainham Gaol, OPW will generally utilise the services of experienced construction companies that possess the necessary skills and expertise to work on listed, heritage and protected structures. I understand that the contractor employed on the Moore Street site was responsible for key phases of the stabilisation of the structure of Kilmainham Courthouse. This enabled the building to be adapted as a visitor centre as one of the permanent reminders under the Ireland 2016 centenary programme. The same contractor has also been employed by OPW on other heritage projects, including the refurbishment of Killarney House for my Department.

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