Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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272. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the proposed renovation of the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park; if funding has been assigned to the project; if so, the amount; the proposed timeline for works to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17975/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park is the major surviving Magazine Fort in the country. The complex has had a long history of continuous use spanning three centuries and is considered to have special architectural, military, historical, social and archaeological interest. The Magazine Fort came into the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW) in the 1980's from the Department of Defence. It is a Protected Structure in the Dublin City Council Development Plan 2016 – 2022.

Over the years, the OPW has undertaken certain works to protect the site and provide some minimal public access but is now embarking on a more substantial programme to conserve the Magazine Fort. The condition of the buildings and rampart walls is poor due to a series of interventions over the centuries. The OPW has commissioned a team of experts to progress the restoration and conservation of this unique fortification.

This is a complex conservation project which will be addressed in a phased manner. The first phase of the project will focus on the stabilisation and structural repairs to the Rampart walls; roof and structural repairs to the Vaulted Magazine Store Buildings; conservation refurbishment works to the Bakery and minor drainage works surrounding the Magazine Store Buildings. This first phase of works will be tendered in May and it is anticipated that works will commence on site later this year. These works will be funded from within the OPW vote and total costs for this phase will be in the region of €5million.