Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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512. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress of the Office of Public Works refurbishment of Carlow courthouse railings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37363/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Conservation of the railings at Carlow Courthouse was initiated in 2016 by Office of Public Works conservation architects. It was decided to carry out the work on the basis of an initial pilot phase on ten sections of the railings. This was a trial exercise to establish a correct works methodology and to gain as much cost certainty as possible for the future phases of work. Repairs and restoration works remain to be carried out on 50 sections of railings. Due to Covid-19 the pilot phase was delayed and was finally completed in early March 2023. The defects liability period comes to a close on the 6th March 2024.

The restoration and conservation works to the railings completed to this point have been successful. The Courts Service and the Office of Public Works are hoping to advance the next stage of the project as a priority. A design team is to be assembled shortly to apply for the requisite permissions and scope the scale and methodology for the conservation and restoration works to the remaining railings. This will lead to a programme for the advancement of all associated works on site.