Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for his welcome words for my OPW staff and colleagues. I also thank the Houses of the Oireachtas, which have done a tremendous job. People might complain about what it cost to do up Leinster House, but the damage was only visible after the plaster was peeled back. The finished article is now a house for the future. I wish Senators the best of luck in the year ahead.

The St. Laurence's Gate building is an iconic structure in Drogheda and is instantly recognisable as a reminder of the ancient town defences. It is a 13th century barbican and was one of the entry points to the town in medieval times. It is a strong visual reminder of Drogheda's past.

The major issue with the gate in recent years was the fact that the roadway through it had been used for ordinary traffic purposes until 2017 when the local authority decided that vehicles should be rerouted away from the archway. It was the OPW's view at the time that this was essential to prevent further physical damage to the monument, as repeated vehicle strikes had given rise to serious alarm over the years and there was a genuine fear that it might be compromised or even terminally damaged. The OPW was relieved when the difficult decision was taken locally to remove the traffic threat from the area. I applaud the members and executive of Louth County Council for taking that decision.

Having resolved the traffic issue, the question arises as to what steps are necessary to realise the full potential of the gate and how to reopen it to the public, thereby creating a new focal point and a tourism attraction in the town. This needs the co-operation of the OPW, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and the local authority, each of which has a role to play. There is no doubt that this is a very challenging proposition, one fraught with difficulty. Two major issues present: first, how to arrange safe access into the interior of what is a compact and confined space in a way that is suitable and enjoyable for visitors and, second, how to deal with the building's multiple serious structural issues in a way that preserves its stability and structural integrity.

The gate building can actually be visited on special arrangement. This option has been open to the public previously and was done on a number of occasions on foot of special arrangements made as part of the heritage week, recent fleadhanna cheoil, and the other local festivals that the Senator referenced. I confirm that the building will continue to be available for opening on request for special events. These limited openings have proven popular and serve as a direct reminder of the locals' pride in this landmark building and the potential it holds for visitor attractions in Drogheda.

Bearing that in mind, the OPW and Louth County Council have co-operated since the traffic closure in trying to find a way to have the gate open to the public continuously.The council has also prioritised proposals for creating a landscape plan for the surrounding area and developing a public realm project to improve the immediate vicinity of the building. However, the single most serious and pressing issue that is causing difficulty and impeding progress is the structural condition of the building. This has been prioritised over any other issue since it calls into question the continued stability of the monument.

As a result of a structural assessment in early 2017 by external consultant engineers working for the OPW, major cracks and structural weaknesses that have significantly compromised the building were discovered. This means that in the view of both the OPW and the structural consultants the building is unsafe for unrestricted general access and, although the OPW can continue to open it under supervision for special occasions, it cannot be fully opened as a visitor attraction in its current condition. The OPW has been working on the development of a scheme of works to counteract this problem with the assistance of its engineers and is aiming to advance a project at the site when this has concluded.

I must caution the Senator that this is a very complex and challenging works proposal. The OPW is not in a position to say when it will be concluded and a stabilised building provided. The OPW is conscious of the need to progress this project. However, there are a significant number of urgent and pressing needs at other monuments in the Louth-Meath area and resources will at times have to be prioritised to deal with those. I appreciate that this will cause some disappointment as I am sure that locals were hopeful that the gate would soon become a favourite destination for visitors. I regret that this will not be achievable in the short term.