asked the Minister for Finance if he will state briefly the origin, purpose and location of the Garden of Remembrance, the amount already expended on it, the estimated total cost of the completed job, the approximate date of completion, and what amenities will be available to the members of the public.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garden of Remembrance.
16.
In 1935, the Dublin Brigade Council of the Old IRA suggested that because of the associations of the site with national activities the northern part of the Rotunda Gardens should be taken over by the Government and converted into a public park to be dedicated to the memory of all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom and to be known as the Garden of Remembrance. The suggestion was adopted by the Government and the site was acquired from the Rotunda Hospital authorities in 1939. Work on this part of the scheme is in progress and will, it is expected, be completed in 1963. The estimated cost of the scheme, exclusive of the cost of the Memorial Sculpture, the design of which has not been fully decided upon, is £144,000 of which about £50,000 has been expended to date. The Garden will be open to the public for whom seating accommodation will be available.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that next year is the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Volunteers and that quite largescale ceremonies will be held by national movements and that they would like to have the Garden ready by that time? Will the Parliamentary Secretary keep that in mind in case overtime might help the situation?
Yes.