Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 673: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will detail the works being carried out and the costs of the work in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Laois. [23630/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Works carried out at the Rock of Dunamase prior to the national development plan, NDP, consisted mainly of archaeological excavations. The nature of these excavations unavoidably resulted in the site being left in a more fragile condition. This first phase of works established the methodology to be adopted in subsequent phases and involved comprehensive topographical, photographic and architectural surveys of the site, removal of vegetation and provision of access routes without damage to existing ground surface. Consolidation and repair of masonry faces uncovered in the archaeological excavation and other extant masonry was carried out by skilled craftspeople using suitable lime mortars and stone.

The main objective of phase 2 of the NDP project is to stabilise, consolidate and conserve the structures on the site in accordance with the methodologies established in phase 1 including further conservation and repairs to stone walls, provision of graded access routes and site fencing. The conservation works to the walls will be quite extensive, aimed at consolidating existing structures to safeguard the monument in the future. The project will leave the structures looking substantially as they were, but stabilised to prevent further deterioration, with the site being made safe for public access and the provision of interpretative materials. The contract was awarded in January 2005 at a value of €1,139,313. Works commenced immediately and are expected to take two years to complete.