John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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474.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the developments in terms of expenditure and capital works that have taken place at Rathfarnham Castle since 2020, or that are planned. [31620/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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While there have been no major capital works in Rathfarnham Castle since 2020, two major projects are at an advanced stage of planning and will be progressed in the coming twelve months.

During excavations in 2014, significant archaeological finds were uncovered. These artefacts have been cleaned, catalogued, conserved and labelled in line with the standards of the National Museum of Ireland (NMI), and are currently being accessioned into the collection of the NMI.

While the accessioning is underway, OPW is concurrently applying to the NMI for long-term loans of significant items identified by the Finds Supervisor of the original dig. Alongside this, the OPW will tender for exhibition design in the coming weeks, and is undertaking surveys to the historic basement space that has been identified as the location for the new exhibition. Funds have been allocated for this project and a team assigned to its delivery.

Once this work has been completed by the NMI, the OPW will open an exhibition at Rathfarnham Castle to contextualise and display these items.

The exterior of Rathfarnham Castle is finished with a substance called lime harling, which is showing some deterioration. In order to prevent this occurring again, there are works that are required to the parapets and roof. This is a large works project which will necessitate a full scaffold being erected around the building. However, there is a short seasonal window in which the lime harling finish can be applied allowing for weather conditions and so it is anticipated that these works will take place in 2025. Funds have been allocated to undertake this project, and a senior architect has been assigned to oversee the design and completion.

Rathfarnham Castle continues to welcome visitors daily throughout the summer season, and will revert to winter opening hours (Wednesday-Sunday inclusive) in October. The Castle's exhibition and events programme is ongoing, with the next Live at Rathfarnham Castle concert taking place on 11th August. Two current exhibitions, Sojourn by Niamh McGuinne and Finds by the Midden Collective, are open to visitors free of charge during the Castle's usual opening hours. Finds offers artistic responses to a selection of the artefacts from the 2014 dig, so may be of particular interest to visitors with an interest in the future permanent exhibition.

Rathfarnham Castle will also hold events for Heritage Week, the Open House Festival, the Red Line Book Festival, and the Dublin Festival of History.