Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent by the Office of Public Works on refurbishment work on Dublin Castle in 2011 in preparation for the State visits of President Obama and Queen Elizabeth; if he will specify the nature of the works, where they occurred in the Castle, and the amount spent in each area; if any of this work had to be redone or changed during the 2012 refurbishment of the printworks; and if he will outline the specifics of the refurbishment work carried out in 2012 on the printworks conference facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58141/12]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The provision of a dedicated media facility in the former ‘Print Works’ area of the Stamping building to accommodate the 1,200 accredited media in preparation for these State visits in 2011 cost a total of €909,000.

The works consisted of:-

- Improvements to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning in the main 'Print Works' space on the ground floor and, to the greater extent, in the basement area. The main cost related to plant and equipment;

- Improvements to the lighting on the ground floor and new lighting in the basement;

- Improvements to emergency and safety services

The new 'Print Works' conference centre works consisted of the provision of a new external podium and steps to the front, modifying internal spaces to provide foyer, cloakroom and sanitary facilities, and refurbishment of the interior of the 'Print Works' on the ground floor for use as a main conference space.

The existing services on the ground floor were retained with some minor alterations, such as the existing lighting was adjusted to make it dimmable for conference purposes. The heating and ventilation system in the main space was improved. However, the main plant and equipment was retained.

The recent refurbishment of this 'Print Works' to create the required conference facilities for the hosting of the EU Presidency did not involve works to the basement area.