asked the Minister for Finance the number of glasshouses in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9, which are in urgent need of repair; the number of these glasshouses which it is intended to repair; if work on the repair and restoration of these glasshouses will commence immediately; the approximate cost of these repairs and restoration work; and the way in which it will be financed.
Written Answers. - Botanic Gardens.
67.
There are a number of glasshouses in the Botanic Gardens, the condition of which is causing concern and which will require repair before too long. These are the Curvilinear Range, the Camelia House, the Palm House and the Cactus and Water House.
Planning for the restoration of the Curvilinear Range is in hands as I indicated in reply to a similar question on 31 January. The estimated cost of this scheme is put tentatively at approximately £4 million. In view of the scale of the expenditure involved the Government have requested the Minister for Agriculture and Food to prepare a detailed report on the matter for their consideration. I understand this report is in course of preparation. I am not in a position to say at this stage when the repair of the range will commence. EC assistance towards the cost of restoration of the Curvilinear Range has been sought. The balance of the cost would have to be met by the Exchequer.
The need for repair to the other houses which I have listed is not quite so pressing. The financial resources available to the Commissioners of Public Works are not adequate to allow these repairs to proceed immediately. The necessary repairs will be carried out as soon as possible.
Apart from those houses in need of repair, there are four propagating houses in need of replacement. They will be replaced on a phased basis as funds become available. There are no plans to replace them immediately.
The order of cost of those repairs and replacements is estimated at £700,000. No decisions have yet been taken on the method of financing the repairs to the Camelia, Plam and Cactus and Water Houses or the replacement of the propagating houses. Urgent, minor repairs to the various glasshouses in the Botanic Gardens are being undertaken on an ongoing basis by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Commissioners of Public Works as appropriate.