Vol. 408 No. 4
17 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he will outline the progress made to date in the restoration work on the General Post Office; the money which will be allocated for work in 1991; if any target date has been set for completion of the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An Post have informed me that work on this project commenced in July last year with the removal of the statues which had aged very badly and required major repairs. Following discussions between An Post and the Office of Public Works it has been decided to replace these statues with cast replicas. The future of the original statues has yet to be resolved. Works are currently in progress on the portico and the restoration of the north facade to O'Connell Street. This work is scheduled to be completed shortly. The next stage will be commencement of work on the replacement of the arch stone to the south portico and the restoration of the south facade.
The Government allocated £500,000 in 1990 and a further £1 million in 1991 from national lottery funds for the project. As the completion of the full project will depend on the availability of additional financial resources, it is not possible at this stage to indicate when the whole project will be completed.
It is a far cry from when it was built in 1880 when it only cost £50,000 for the whole project——
Moving statues?
Will the Minister confirm that the original design had three entrances under the portico? The building was refurbished in 1929 and its redesign is illogical. The original design involved entering the building from beneath the portico and it is most desirable that that feature is re-established. Will the Minister give his views in that regard?
I will bring the Deputy's comments to the attention of the designers and impress on them the way he feels about it.
It is not the first time there has been a question in this regard. As the GPO is of such historical importance it should not be dependent on lottery funds to ensure that the restoration work is carried out expeditiously. A sum of £500,000 was allocated last year and a sum of £1 million this year. The Minister said that the completion of the full project will depend on the availability of additional financial resources to what should be, essentially, a national shrine. It is an insult to the men who sacrificed their lives in declaring the Proclamation outside the GPO that we now depend on the national lottery to fund it; it is an absolute disgrace.
The project will be completed. It will cost over £2.5 million, half of that is already available, the work is progressing and the rest will be provided as soon as we allocate and identify its precise source. However, we are committed to the project.
Should the Government not provide the money from their own resources rather than depending on the national lottery, on chance, to complete the job?
The Deputy made that point earlier.
The money should be made available forthwith.
Question No. 21 please.
