Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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401. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the nature of refurbishments that OPW carried out at Donegal Castle in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39658/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the conservation and presentation of over 780 National Monuments including Donegal Castle and 32 Historic Properties nationwide. The Castle, on the River Eske and just off the town centre, came into State Guardianship in 1898. Donegal Castle consists of the remains of a much altered 15th century tower-house and the remains of an adjoining early 17th century manor-house, and a gatehouse which houses the visitor reception and staff welfare facilities.

Over the decades, works to protect and conserve the Castle have been undertaken starting back in the 1930s with a major shoring up of the riverbank walls of the Castle. The Gatehouse was restored as a Reception Office in the 1980s with the most significant elements of conservation works to the Castle being undertaken in the 1990s with the restoration of the later 15th/16th century tower-house. Works at the time consisted of a new roof, new internal floors and stairs, new bronze windows, consolidation and repair of the important carved architectural features and plasterwork. The matter of water ingress to O’Donnell Tower was addressed by an application of lime render to its upper area.

OPW has also roofed a portion of the Manor House adjacent to the Ó Donnell Tower and addressed areas of water ingress with lime render.

In latter years, a lightening protection system has been installed as well as measures to solve water ponding issues inside the Castle

The table below gives a brief description of the conservation works, planned in 2023 and undertaken in 2024 and 2025.

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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402. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of WTE staff, by job title working in Donegal Castle; the number of vacancies by job title currently at Donegal Castle; the estimated timeframe for filling each of those vacancies, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39663/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Number of WTE Staff by Grade is set out as follows in tabular form. We do not have any vacancies or recruitment to be completed for Donegal Castle at this time.