Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will provide funding for essential repair works at Bunratty Castle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8802/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Bunratty Castle is a National Monument in the Guardianship of the Minister for Heritage and Clare County Council now has responsibility for the management and operations of the Castle. The OPW is engaging with the Council on matters relating to conservation going forward.

In general, the OPW does not provide funding directly to other parties such as Local Authorities. As such, all funding allocated to the OPW is for OPW-led programmes of conservation of National Monuments, largely through the OPW direct-labour workforce.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) commissioned an architectural assessment report for Bunratty Castle in 2021. That report set out significant conservation works that would be required for the repair and upkeep of the Castle. I can confirm that no allocations have been made for this purpose in 2025.

The OPW will assess what additional funds will be required to cover maintenance, capital works and any additional staff requirements needed to undertake a programme of works identified in the aforementioned architectural assessment report and make provision for these works in the 2026 estimate.