asked the Taoiseach whether the National Heritage Council has submitted a report to him on the Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9; the recommendations contained in the report; and the action the Government intend to take to implement the recommendations other than the steps already announced by the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Heritage Council Report.
3.
I asked the National Heritage Council to carry out an appreciation of the National Botanic Gardens and they submitted their report to me on 25 October 1989. Their principal recommendations relate to ministerial responsibility for the gardens and to strengthen the scientific, horticultural and amenity roles of the gardens. The merits of these recommendations will now be fully considered.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he will make available and publish a copy of the report which he has received from the National Heritage Council? Would the Taoiseach agree that the Botanic Gardens are an important national asset as part of our historic heritage? Would he agree that currently the gardens are in an extreme state of dilapidation with regard to the various greenhouses, other than the Turner greenhouses for which works have now been commissioned, and that unless immediate remedial works are carried out other greenhouses within the gardens are going to reach a state of disrepair which will leave them in a condition which is irretrievable? Can the Taoiseach indicate what steps he proposes to take to deal with that particular problem?
It would not be the practice to publish reports of that kind but I can assure the Deputy that the recommendations will now be favourably considered. They relate to strengthening the scientific, horticultural and amenity roles of the gardens. We hope to get on with the work of improving the situation. The first step was to have the National Heritage Council look at the whole situation and advise us and that is now being done.
Would the Taoiseach agree that in the context of the various works that require to be undertaken in the gardens the social employment scheme could make a contribution in providing the manpower to undertake these works? Would the Taoiseach consider making an approach to the Federation Workers Union of Ireland who have blocked the use of the scheme——
The Deputy is expanding the scope of this question out of all proportion.
——so that essential work can be undertaken?
Order. We are having extraneous matter injected into this question.
The question relates to the Botanic Gardens.
I do not think we will have to resort to a special employment scheme. As the Deputy knows, the principal work to be undertaken is the restoring of the curvilinear glasshouses. That is now underway and the necessary financial sanctions have been provided.
Is the Taoiseach aware that there are other glasshouses in the Botanic Gardens some of which are in such a poor state of repair that they have ceased to be in use? Is the Taoiseach equally aware that 40,000 books and journals worth in excess of £8 million are currently dispersed to a variety of offices in the Botanic Gardens? Is he aware that a herborium consisting of 750,000 individual dried specimens is distributed among three small bedrooms in a house?
The Deputy is embarking upon a speech. It is not in order to debate this matter now. The Deputy has made his point.
Perhaps I could complete my question. Would the Taoiseach indicate what specific proposals he has to resolve this difficulty and what recommendations with regard to this aspect of the problems have been received from the national council?
The Deputy is engaging in repetition.
The Taoiseach is aware that for the first time in decades the problem of the Botanic Gardens is being actively tackled.
It is in an appalling state of disrepair, which is a national scandal.
The Deputy is indulging in whatever the opposite is of locking the stable door after the horse is gone. Figure that one out.
The Taoiseach is throwing stones in political glasshouses.
Be careful when talking about stable doors.
In a way one cannot help admiring Deputy Shatter's opportunism. As soon as he discovered that we were tackling this job and doing something about it, he started putting down questions.
The Taoiseach is doing nothing about most of the problems of the gardens, other than the glasshouses.