andMr. D. Andrews asked the Minister for Finance when the hoardings defacing the Custom House will be removed; and the reason no action has been taken to have these removed since December 1982.
Written Answers. - Restoration of Custom House.
373.
Mr. N. Andrews
A contract for the restoration and repair of the Custom House stonework was placed in October 1984 and work is now under way. The hoardings will be taken down only as progress with the restoration work permits. It is not possible, at this stage, to give a specific time scale for their removal.
These hoardings were erected to protect the public against a potential danger from falling masonry. The danger resulted from the serious deterioration of the stonework due to atmospheric pollution, the rusting of ferrous metal and other factors, over a long number of years.