Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the works to King John's Castle in Carlingford, County Louth; when the works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7454/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Carlingford is an historic town with a number of fine structures including two National Monuments in State care; the historic Mint building and Carlingford Castle, known popularly as King John's Castle, named after Richard the Lionheart's brother.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has embarked on a programme of safety and access works at King John's Castle and the first phase, a pedestrian walkway outside the Castle was completed in the last few years. The next phase involves extending the accessible areas and allowing visitors to more easily enter the Castle site. A key aspect of the work will involve the careful dismantling of a 19th century wall and its reconstruction on a new firmer foundation with the addition of an access door through which members of the public will be able to pass. This will dramatically improve the current situation.

This next phase of works is a major conservation project in its own right. A large amount of preparatory work, design and careful Archaeological investigation and assessment has been carried out and the Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht has provided the necessary Archaeological Consent required under National Monuments legislation to allow the work to proceed. All that has been done, to date, at the Castle, though substantial, has been carried out to facilitate the major element that is yet to come.

The OPW intends to commence the next phase of works at this site in the summer of 2015. It is not possible just yet to say when all works will be completed.