Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boylan for raising this matter and providing me with the opportunity to address it on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, who sends his apologies. I may not be able to answer some of the specific questions but I will refer them to the Minister of State. This is a very specific case.

Emo Court is a neoclassical mansion designed by architect James Gandon and is a protected structure under RPS 412 of County Laois. It is recognised as one of Ireland's finest historical houses. Emo Court is a rare example of a late 18th century Irish Palladian mansion, whose grand columns and imposing facades have absorbed the colour and vitality of the rich mid-19th century decoration and additions. The house sits in a picturesque landscape park setting which, to a great extent, reflects the late 18th century vision of the owners and their chosen designers, but retains elements of an earlier landscape design. As with the house, the 19th century additions to the landscape add richness, as does the presence of a number of exceptional specimen and veteran trees. A notable wealth of documentary evidence associated with the place adds further to the importance of Emo Court, where history and heritage can be experienced with recourse to a higher than common level of authenticity.

Arising from this combination of integrity and authenticity, Emo Court and Park are considered of exceptional significance. The site is hugely popular and is just off the M7 in the middle of the country. More than 500,000 visitors use the grounds and it is a haven of biodiversity. The Office of Public Works, OPW, leads on educating visitors on the flora and fauna of the estate. The OPW is committed to carefully conserving our native species and fighting biodiversity loss. The organisation works to the national biodiversity action plan and in 2021 developed an organisation-wide biodiversity strategy to ensure an all-of-organisation approach to meeting its obligations under the national plan. This action strategy will be launched in the coming weeks.

The OPW takes its responsibilities very seriously regarding the protection of wild flora and fauna. It has won awards for specific biodiversity initiatives, including the first ever all-Ireland pollinator award at the Victorian walled garden in the Phoenix Park and later at Castletown House for its pollinator meadow. The OPW is engaged in an initiative to support the population of native barn owls at 12 national monument sites nationwide with BirdWatch Ireland. The OPW has for years implemented a swift box initiative at some of Dublin's historical buildings in its care and in 2020, it undertook a year-long biodiversity study and audit at Áras an Uachtaráin.

At Emo Court, the OPW has cared for and continues to care for the significant bat roost there in line with wildlife and habitats legislation. The bat roost is fully intact and active. It was not disturbed or damaged in any way during recent works and the bat populations at Emo Court are stable.

Emo Court is in much need of investment to upgrade the roof, replace dangerous electrical installations and install new heating systems. In 2019, the OPW secured funding under the rural regeneration and development fund of €1.2 million to undertake refurbishment and conservation works in the house and gardens in order to expand the visitor experience at the property and ensure this important heritage site delivers for the local tourism, employment, amenity and rural development agendas.

In 2019, the OPW carried out critical electrical and fire upgrades and a refurbishment of rooms for the Fr. Brown exhibition. This project provided access to visitors to the first floor of the house for the first time in 25 years. There was wonderful visitor feedback on the enhanced heritage on offer and the reputation and visibility of the house increased. Laois County Council is extremely happy with the increase in tourism potential.

In the autumn of last year, essential electrical works that were carried out constituted urgent immediate action, taken on foot of genuine escalating concerns for the safety of staff, external security and fire protection personnel and the main house at Emo Court. Urgent minimal electrical upgrading work took place in the electrical switch room and back west stairs area of the basement. This is not located near the bat roost room, which is in the round cellar under the central rotunda. The bat roost was not disturbed or impacted and the OPW understands that as emergency works, these did not require a derogation licence.

In 2020, the OPW contracted ecological consultant Scott Cawley Limited to provide advisory services in connection with further planned conservation works to the ground floor and basement of the house and to monitor the OPW at all stages in the delivery of these works in compliance with a derogation licence, which was formally sought that year. It is important to note that when the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, granted the derogation licence for works to commence at Emo Court in September 2020, following the submission of an ecological report on behalf of the OPW by its consultant ecologist, Scott Cawley Limited, NPWS staff expressed their satisfaction that multiple surveys had been carried out by competent bat ecologists into the important bat roost at Emo Court. The NPWS was satisfied that the detailed measures outlined in the report were justified and proportionate and would ensure that bats would not be harmed during the forthcoming works. One of the mitigating measures outlined by the OPW's consultant ecologist and highlighted by NPWS staff when they recommended approval was the specific timing of works. This timing limitation was adhered to rigidly by OPW personnel and contractors working on site in 2020 and 2021.

It should be noted that Bat Conservation Ireland undertook three separate surveys at Emo Court in 2021 and the surveying records indicate a stable population of bats in line with levels recorded in previous years in the period 2012-2020. In 2022, Bat Conservation Ireland will carry out three further systematic counts to monitor the continued health of the roost in Emo Court.

I reaffirm the OPW's commitment to conserving and enhancing our national biodiversity. The bat roost in Emo Court is active and is being managed proactively by the OPW. It is monitored regularly by an independent third party. Data collected by Bat Conservation Ireland since 2008 indicate that biannual counts have been taking place since 2012 and were increased to three counts per year in 2019. These counts over a period of more than a decade show that the number of bats at Emo is stable. I thank the Acting Chairman for showing me some discretion.