Written answers

Wednesday, 8 May 2019

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Office of Public Works Expenditure

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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219. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on restoration and maintenance of the Rock of Cashel in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the detail of such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18859/19]

Photo of Kevin  MoranKevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works recognises the importance of the Rock of Cashel as a major site in terms of the tourism industry and as a unique piece of our cultural heritage. Expenditure at Cashel falls under three general headings:

- Light Maintenance; (eg: whitewashing, weed and grass clearance, fencing, small masonry repairs etc)

- Visitor experience; (eg: Interpretation material, light and heat, general infrastructure maintenance and cleaning,, security etc)

- Elective conservation and emergency works (eg: planned conservation, retrieval and correction of structurally-unstable buildings and structures)

These works are generally undertaken by the OPW's directly-employed skilled labour force, except in cases where specialist Contractors or external service providers are employed. A significant amount of monies spent at the Rock of Cashel therefore relates to pay of OPW staff and other associated costs.

Over the last number of years, a number of significant projects have been undertaken at the site including the successful project to conserve the structure of Cormacs Chapel, one of the most significant early Romanesque buildings in the country, and to eliminate water ingress thereby saving the remaining fragments of an immensely important scheme of wall paintings which it contains. These works were substantially completed in 2017 and have been followed with regular ongoing monitoring to ensure that the internal environment of the structure remains stable for the future.

For future planning purposes, new LV and ELV ducting has been installed at the site in 2017/2018. Additionally, a new LED floodlighting system was provided in 2018 to replace the earlier outdated installation.

The attached Table gives the information required by the Deputy and relates to those monies expended from the OPW National Monuments Budget allocation.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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220. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on the maintenance of the Farmleigh Estate in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the detail of such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18860/19]

Photo of Kevin  MoranKevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The following sets out the amounts spent on maintenance at Farmleigh Estate and the details of the types of maintenance works which were carried out from 2016 to 2019 (to date).

2016€160,919.31

Maintenance works included repair of water main, excavation of drainage swales, pointing of walls and repairing stone, works to road surfaces, works to Courtyard, insulation and dry lining to walls, repair of brickwork at Steward’s lodge, line marking and safety works on roadways and general landscaping and tree works.

2017€210,564.07

Works included repair of Farmer’s Gate, repairs to sunken garden, works to White’s Road including drainage, removal of sculpture from lake, works to car park ducting, works to car park entrance, removal of fencing and water troughs, repairs to water main connection, repairs of manhole at Boathouse, cleaning of lake, general maintenance works at Farmleigh Gallery and installation of lighting banner.

2018€69,137.88

Works included resurfacing of gravel paths, works to car park entrance, works to lake outfall, removal of wisteria on the house, general repair of site due to snow and extreme weather, cleaning works to fountain, repair of Magnolia Walk, landscaping the surround of the main house, general maintenance at the main house and maintenance at the Boathouse restaurant.

2019€42,569.10

Works to date have included repairs to gravel path by the lake, repairs to main drive from the Phoenix Park entrance and site maintenance to main car park.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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221. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on the upkeep and use of the Stewards Lodge in Farmleigh in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the dates and purpose for which it has been used in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18861/19]

Photo of Kevin  MoranKevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The cost of maintenance and upkeep of Steward's Lodge is included in the overall operational costs of Farmleigh estate and therefore it is not possible to directly apportion specific upkeep costs to Steward's Lodge.

Steward’s Lodge at Farmleigh Estate was used on the following dates:

2016

1st - 4th January

16th and 17th, 28th March

30thJune

12thSeptember

23rdOctober

1st, 18th, 30th November

16th - 19th December

2017

2nd March

11th, 13th - 22nd April

19th, 23rd and 27th May

10th and 11th June

13th November

10th December

2018

11th February

7th and 30th April

20th May

9th and 27th June

3rd, 23rd and 24th August

28th Sept

20th and 28th December

2019 to date

4th and 6th April

Use of Steward's Lodge is at the sole discretion of Department of an Taoiseach and OPW is not privy to the purpose of use.

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