asked the Minister for Finance if he has any plans to complete the restoration work of St. Laurence's Gate, Drogheda, County Louth, which is one of Ireland's most important precious monuments; whether this important monument has been sadly neglected by the Office of Public Works over the past 50 years; if his attention has been drawn to the commitment given by the last Government that the essential work to be carried out on this monument would be done without delay; the funds which will be made available for this work to be carried out; when it will commence; the amount of money being allocated in 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Restoration Work.
66.
St. Laurence's Gate, Drogheda, is owned by the Corporation of Drogheda and was placed in the Guardainship of the Commissioners of Public Works in 1965. I am satisfied that the commissioners have discharged their responsibilities as Guardians of the National Monument over the last 24 years and I do not accept that they have neglected it. The commissioners have in that period undertaken substantial repair works to the monument and they carry out regular maintenance of it. The commissioners see no need to undertake any major works at the site arising from their guardianship responsibilities and accordingly no funds have been allocated for such a purpose.
I am not aware of any commitment by the last Government to carry out works at the monument. I understand that the Corporation of Drogheda have made the refurbishment and opening of the gate to the public an objective of their development plan and I would be happy if they were to do this subject to the consent of the commissioners under the National Monuments Acts to the scheme of works. The commissioners have given advice to the corporation regarding the minimum works which would be required to give safe public access to the wall tops of both towers of the monument and, indeed, have offered to undertake these works on a repayment basis. As the arch of the monument bridges one of the main streets of Drogheda, the corporation would, I expect, also have to consider new traffic regulations in order to implement their plan.