Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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473. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of repair works at a site (details supplied); and when it will reopen to the public. [18306/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Repointing and re-grouting are progressing well with the work undertaken by the Office of Public Works District Works Crew.  It is a labour intensive task necessary but necessary to dry out the building before internal works can commence.  All going well, it is anticipated at this time that re-grouting works will be complete in 2024.

In tandem with this, work has commenced on the next phase of the project which is the upgrade of the mechanical and electrical systems within the Castle.  An Invitation to Tender for a suitably qualified contractor has issued with responses currently being assessed.  OPW is currently working with expert ecologists and it is hoped that this next phase can commence later in the year subject to the receipt of the necessary Ministerial Consent and Derogation Licences.

The Office of Public Works is mindful of the fact that Barryscourt Castle has been unavailable to visitors and the local community for a number of years.  I have asked my officials in the National Monuments division to start work on a re-opening plan for the site to ensure there is no delay when all works are complete and I would envisage that progress will be made in this regard during 2023.  However, it is not possible to give a definitive date for reopening at this stage due to the complexity of the ongoing conservation works.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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474. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of work, and if he has received any request or correspondence from a Local authority regarding a building (details supplied). [18307/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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This property was the subject of PQ 55497/21 and PQ 7920/23 submitted by the Deputy.

The position regarding Vernon Mount House remains the same. The House and it’s immediate curtilage registered under Folio CK136041F is owned by a private company Vernon Mount House Restoration Ltd. This company is live, its annual returns are up to date and the CRO status is Normal.The house is not State property and, that being the case, neither the OPW nor the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform has any role in this matter.

There is no record of OPW receiving correspondence from the local authority in respect of Mount Vernon House during 2022 or 2023. As this property is privately owned there is no expectation that the OPW would receive such correspondence, because it has no role in the ownership or management of the property.