Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words about the National Botanic Gardens. More often than not when I am in the Seanad to speak about the role of the OPW, it concerns another element of its work with which I deal; namely, coastal erosion and flooding. This debate gives me a chance to speak on a lighter note about another element of the OPW. The Senator is right when he suggests it is one of the best jobs in government. I do not have to go outside this Chamber when looking for a testament to the role of the OPW, which did a magnificent job in restoring it.

The Senator gave a good overview of the history of the National Botanic Gardens as an historic institution dating back to 1795. He probably knows it better than some of the people working in the OPW. It serves a scientific role as well as being the historic setting of some of the most significant cast-iron and wrought-iron glasshouses in the country and in the world. In 1992, the OPW, in consultation with the gardens, produced a management plan which considered all the structures and facilities at the National Botanic Gardens and provided a blueprint for the phased restoration and refurbishment of the institution. Over the past 27 years, the OPW has invested considerable attention and funding towards restoring and refurbishing buildings at the National Botanic Gardens. This has included two major glasshouses, including Richard Turner's internationally important glasshouse, the Curvilinear Range, which was fully restored in 1995. I recall there was some criticism of this project from people who walked these corridors at particular stages. They referred to it at the time as a waste of money. I am proud to say that the quality and attention devoted to this building earned the OPW a Europa Nostra award. Since that time, the 1992 management plan has continued to deliver on many significant projects at the gardens. These have included new buildings for the National Herbarium and its research library in 1997, a new propagation glasshouse range in 1998, the visitor centre in 2001 and the Glasnevin Cemetery linking gate in 2013. The development of a series of lecture rooms for the Teagasc horticultural college in 1999 and 2014 has continued the role relating to horticulture outlined by the Senator. The restoration and refurbishment of buildings at the gardens included a faithful restoration of the Great Palm House in 2004, the Teak House in 2009 and last year, an historic gardener's cottage.

All these projects were part of the 1992 management plan and very few works remain outstanding, which I am sure the Senator will be glad to hear. Chief among these is the Aquatic House complex, about which Senator Boyhan enquired. The complex comprises a Succulent House, a Fern House and the Aquatic House. This last building was designed and constructed in 1854 specifically for growing the giant Amazon water lily, which was the botanical sensation of its day. The reopening of a fully restored and refurbished Aquatic House complex as a new visitor attraction, which is a hugely important part of what the OPW does, will provide a restoration fit for the 21st century to enhance research and display at the National Botanic Gardens. A really important part of what we are doing is for the local community in that part of Glasnevin as well, bringing tourists to that part of the north side of the city.

As well as strengthening the ability of the National Botanic Gardens to carry out plant research and propagation, a priority for this range will be its long-term energy efficiency and sustainable construction. I am happy to report that a design brief is well advanced. As with previous projects, the OPW is taking a phased approach to secure these historic structures, which will ensure their appropriate and sustainable development into the future. Phase 1, which began in July 2020, is now complete and involved the removal of all dangerous structures. In phase 2, the OPW plans to faithfully restore the Cactus House and the Water Lily House and provide a new redeveloped Fern House. The OPW's project oversight group approved the business case for phase 2 in April 2021 . In the next few months, we intend to appoint a design team and to seek planning approval for the works. We hope to have the detailed design signed off and will then proceed to seeking tenders in the last quarter of 2022. Construction will take approximately 18 months. The quantitative estimates at present are of the order of €13.8 million. The OPW will submit a planning application in the fourth quarter of 2022 and go to tender in 2023. It is estimated that site works will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025.