Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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311. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a start date has been agreed for the commencement of remedial works on Cairn T at the Loughcrew heritage site near Oldcastle, County Meath; if he can confirm the plan and schedule for the re-opening of Cairn T to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3185/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Loughcrew Megalithic Cemetery, also known as Slieve na Cailliaghe “the Hills of the Witch” are a group of Neolithic passage tombs near Oldcastle in County Meath. There are about thirty passage graves across this megalithic landscape, in varying states of preservation. The Office of Public Works (OPW) provides a seasonal guide service during the months of May to September to engage with visitors and give tours of the cairns. Loughcrew is attended to by the OPW Trim District Works team on a regular basis, who carry out routine conservation and maintenance as necessary.

Cairn T is one of the largest tombs in the complex and is a National Monument in State care. The cairn has been closed to the public since October 2018 arising from a condition survey at that time which identified some structural concerns which informed the OPW decision to restrict public access to the cairn to protect the Monument and ensure visitor health and safety.

The OPW initially installed an 'acrow' prop in order to secure the roof of Cairn T. This remained in place until mid-2024, when it was replaced with a new support solution, improving visibility into the Cairn and allowing better views to the chamber. This new propping also allows for safe access for technical specialists to examine the cairn.

The stone conservation issues of the tomb itself, the Neolithic art, the condition of the mound and entrance to the tomb require further detailed examination by engineering specialists. The construction phase of any repair projects will depend on the repairs proposed, taking into account the considerable archaeological constraints in place.

The public will not have any access to the passage and chamber for the next number of seasons as the OPW undertakes this phase of technical examinations and the conservation works arising.

The OPW is committed to fully reopening Cairn T to the public and to conserving and protecting this significant monument, while ensuring that future public access is safe and sustainable. Future guided access to Cairn T will also be examined as part of a Conservation Management Plan for the entire site at Loughcrew, which is currently being developed.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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312. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the 14-storey Opera Tower at the Opera site in Limerick will be considered by Cabinet; for an update on the status of the tower; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2168/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Further to a Government Decision in December 2014, it was agreed in principle that the Office of Public Works (OPW) would enter into an agreement with Limerick City & County Council (LCCC) to relocate the Revenue Commissioners to a proposed new office building to be developed as part of the urban regeneration project at the Opera Site in Limerick City. In 2022 a further Memorandum for Government was submitted and the subsequent Government Decision confirmed the continued support for the project.

As required by the Infrastructure Guidelines, the OPW has prepared a Strategic Assessment Report / Preliminary Business Case for the project and is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in relation to this.

Pending approval of the Preliminary Business Case, it is intended that a Memorandum for Government will be submitted to Government seeking approval to enter into an agreement with Limerick Twenty-Thirty (L2030) for the delivery of a 14 story building.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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313. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of European election candidates that have received reimbursement of their election expenses, in each of the three constituencies of the 2024 election, including the dates on which those payments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2188/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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To date eight European election 2024 candidates have had expenses reimbursed.

Payments were made on the following dates:

• 8 November 2024
• 11 November 2024 (x2)
• 4 December 2024
• 10 December 2024 (x2)
• 11 December 2024
• 23 December 2024