Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to address the House on the subject of the Swiss Cottage in Cahir, County Tipperary. The Swiss Cottage may be without peer in the realm of fantasy, but it also has few equals in the field of architectural history. It is rightly considered to be among the finest examples surviving of the ornamental cottage. In this context, and as one of the more renowned garden or landscape buildings in the country, the Swiss Cottage stands proudly alongside the Casino at Marino, a site also in the care of the Office of Public Works, as a very fine example of a sophisticated garden building.

Situated near Cahir, the Swiss Cottage was constructed in the early years of the 19th century as a fanciful realisation of an idealised countryside cottage. Built by Richard Butler, the 12th Lord Cahir, it was intended as an occasional residence and as a backdrop of a more unusual character for entertainment. Its conception was perhaps not without certain modesty, but its realisation was spectacular. In 1989 the cottage was presented to the Irish nation and since the early 1990s has been part of the portfolio of heritage sites presented to the public by the Office of Public Works. Today, the cottage stands as a testament to the many figures involved in its renovation, to its designer, and to the family responsible for its erection, the Butlers of Cahir.

Public access to the Swiss Cottage is by way of a bridge across the River Suir. In recent times, the condition of this bridge has, on visual inspection, given cause for concern. In late 2006, a consultant engineer was appointed by the Office of Public Works to carry out an assessment of the bridge and to make recommendations on its structural condition and the level of work required. Early in this assessment process, the engineer reported that the bridge was in dangerous condition and recommended that access to it be limited pending his full inspection and report. At that stage, access by motor vehicles was restricted.

When it was received at the beginning of 2007, the engineer's full report underlined the dangerous condition of the bridge, highlighted the ongoing erosion of its structural members and recommended repair as a matter of urgency. Based on these recommendations, the Office of Public Works acted swiftly to request the preparation of the necessary tender documents for the repair of the bridge. These documents are scheduled to be complete by the week beginning 12 March 2007. At that point, tenders will be invited immediately with a view to the necessary repair work being commenced at the earliest possible date.

The first step in the works programme will involve the removal of the deck of the bridge, which is in an unstable condition. With the necessity to remove the deck, the closure of the bridge is absolutely essential. For both practical operational reasons and for health and safety, the removal of the deck must take place when the river is at its lowest. Unfortunately this period happens to be when the site is normally open to the public as part of the Heritage Sites of Ireland programme operated by the Office of Public Works.

In this context, an alternative access to allow the cottage to remain open was examined. The only alternative access on the cottage side of the river is a private road which is in poor condition. While the Office of Public Works has a right of way over this road, for works purposes this does not extend to public access. This roadway is not suitable for cars and there are no parking facilities in the area close to the Cottage. In addition the roadway would also provide the only access to the site for emergency services should they be required. The advice available suggests that the roadway would not be suitable for an ambulance. The question of providing an alternative temporary bridge was also considered, but given the extent of the work required on either side of the river bank in repairing the existing bridge, it is felt that this option is not feasible from a health and safety perspective.

I am very hopeful that all of the necessary work to repair the bridge at the Swiss Cottage can be completed during the course of 2007. It is regretful that such a magnificent site will not be available to the public this year but the dangerous condition of the only public access to the site means that there is no other choice but to close it to the public. The period of its closure will used by the Office of Public Works to bring forward its plans to re-thatch the building, work originally pencilled in for 2008, thereby minimising further possible disruption in the future. In the meantime, visitors to the Cahir area can still visit the magnificent Cahir Castle, which attracts in excess of 60,000 each year.