Vol. 401 No. 2
3 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Communications the estimated total cost of the current restoration programme for the General Post Office, Dublin 1; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Arising from concern about the safety of sections of the stonework of the facade of the GPO, An Post commissioned a full in-depth survey on the condition and structural safety of the facade. The restoration works now in progress on the GPO facade involve restoration of the statues and portico. An Post have informed me that having obtained professional advice in the matter the estimate of the total cost of the full restoration of the statues, balustrade, facade and portico is of the order of £2.8 million at current prices.
In view of the historical importance of the GPO building the Government decided last March to allocate £1 million in national lottery funds for the project, half in 1990, the other half in 1991. However, in the light of the current difficult financial situation in An Post, it is intended to phase in the restoration work over a number of years.
In 1990 and 1991 expenditure will be limited to the national lottery allocation. This expenditure will cover the portico and statues in 1990 and part of the O'Connel Street facade in 1991.
As the completion of the full project will depend on the availability of financial resources in 1992 and later years, it is not possible at this stage to indicate when the whole project will be completed.
I am sure the Minister would like to, in the first instance, acknowledge that he would be virtually redundant as Minister for Communications today but for The Workers' Party and their interest in his Department.
I notice that.
In regard to the central and significant importance of this building, as the flagship of An Post and also as the national monument to rebellion and independence in the country, can the Minister assure the House that there will be full commitment to the entire restoration of the building as needed?
The historical importance of the GPO has been recognised by the fact that the Government have decided to allocate £1 million from the lottery funds for the project. The situation will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Will the programme of restoration include a re-evaluation of the use of the building? Since we still do not have a national postal museum would the Minister intend that the refurbishment of the section immediately under the portico might include a redesignation of its use?
That is a separate question but I would be delighted to have a look at it.
Would the Minister agree that the fact that a national monument should have to be dependent on the national lottery for its repairs and refurbishment is an indication of the Government's attitude to this important building? Is it not disgraceful that we are depending on the national lottery to refurbish this historical monument?
An Post have a contract with the Government in relation to the use of this building as a general post office and it is their responsibility to maintain the building. However, in view of their financial situation, the Government decided to relieve them of part of that burden and to allocate £1 million from the national lottery towards it. I do not see that as a slight to what this building stands for. The important thing is to have it restored. We are trying to assist An Post and that is why we gave them the £1 million.
To what extent, if any, have the Office of Public Works been involved in the restoration work?
The Office of Public Works and the architectural and engineering advisers of An Post worked together on the study as to what restoration work has to be undertaken. Therefore, the Office of Public Works are very much involved.
Is the upkeep and maintenance of any of these buildings not the responsibility of the semi-State bodies who use them? Should the national lottery funds not be applied to those original ideas in the Act, sport, the arts and health, rather than having the funds disbursed to a commercial, albeit a semi-State, body for the upkeep of their premises?
We are veering away from the question.
I would agree with the Deputy, but in view of the financial circumstances in An Post and the historical importance of the GPO, the Government decided that this necessary restoration work should be funded partly from the national lottery. Part of the building has been dangerous; there have been a number of incidents where portions of the stone fell although, thankfully, nobody was injured. It is important that the building be restored as soon as possible. It was with that in mind that the Government decided to allocate the £1 million of lottery funds.
There are two Deputies offering. We cannot dwell unduly long on any one question. I would like to make some worthwhile progress on questions.
Would the Minister not accept that, in view of the fact that the property is in direct ownership of the State, although on loan to An Post, the case can be made for the State to take on the full cost of the restoration, with An Post having no part in it?
We are having an element of repetition.
It is the legal responsibility of An Post to maintain their property. As I have outlined already on a number of occasions, in view of the historic importance of the building, the Government decided to allocate £1 million, but no decision has been made in relation to the balance of the required sum. That is a matter for the future but let us undertake the work that has to be done at present.
Would the Minister agree that the intervention took place at too late a stage entirely? Would he consider reviewing the matter on the basis that An Post own many significant buildings not just in the city but provincially? Can the Minister confirm that the restoration of the portico section will involve opening up access to the building through the portico, which would substantially re-enhance that area of the building which at present does not seem to serve its purpose?
As far as the detail of the restoration and the opening up of the portico as suggested by the Deputy is concerned, I have not got the precise plans available to me and I have not been briefed on the matter. I can arrange for the spokesmen on communications or any other Deputies who are interested to have a look at the plans of the work that is to be undertaken. Perhaps we could arrange to do that some time during the summer.
As far as the portico is concerned, apart from making it safe, its original design of entry——
I think the Deputy has effectively made that point.
I am more than willing to arrange for the studies that have been undertaken and the plans that have been decided on to be made available. We might go down there sometime during the summer break and have a look at the work to be undertaken. In response to the first part of the Deputy's previous question, it was not on safety alone that this restoration work was undertaken.
