John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the lease in place between the Office of Public Works and the Arts for Peace Foundation relative to Durrow Abbey, County Offaly; the amount charged by the State, each year; if €250,000 has been sanctioned as a grant to restore parts of Durrow Abbey; if so, the amount that has been drawn down, and the work concerned; the agreements in place between the foundation and the office for certain works to be undertaken by the office; if these works have been completed; the purpose of the meeting with the office, persons (details supplied), and the foundation, held on 4 November 2010; the instructions given by the office to the architect at this meeting; if the minutes of this meeting will be provided to this Deputy; if he will confirm the nature of the stipulations for the drawdown of the €250,000, as set out at a further meeting in November 2012; if the minutes of the meeting of 16 November 2012 will be provided to this Deputy; if the Chief State Solicitor's office advised the Office of Public Works and the Minister, relative to the meeting of 16 November 2012; if he will confirm the Government commitments that were provided to the foundation from the very outset of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8905/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 21 May 2007 a 99 year full repair and insure lease on Durrow Abbey House was agreed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Arts for Peace Foundation at a peppercorn rate (€10 annual rent). This requires the Foundation, as lessee, to carry out all internal and external repairs/maintenance to the fabric of Durrow Abbey. The development of the Foundation's objectives in relation to Durrow Abbey was not conditional on funding, being provided by the State.

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the further questions raised by the Deputy relate to matters on which they are currently awaiting the legal advice sought. On receipt of the legal advice the Commissioners will revert to the Deputy.