Written Answers - Carrick-on-Shannon (Leitrim) Courthouse.
Declan Bree
Question:
100
Mr. Bree
asked the
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
whether he has received an application for grant aid under the cultural development incentives scheme 1994-1999 from Leitrim County Council for the development of an Interpretative Centre/Exhibition Area in the former Court House in Carrick-on-Shannon; and whether Leitrim County Council has submitted any application to his Department for grant aid under the cultural development incentives scheme 1994-1999.
[2395/96]
Leitrim County Council did not submit any application to my Department for funding under the cultural development incentives scheme, 1994-99.
However, in February 1995, Leitrim County Council did write to me informing me that they had been advised that the former courthouse would not be suitable for restoration for use as civic offices, but would be suitable for use as an interpretative centre/museum, and that they had therefore decided to proceed with the provision of new civic offices at another location in Carrick-on-Shannon. They requested that consideration be given to the Office of Public Works taking over the courthouse for development as an interpretative centre, with particular reference to interpretation of the Shannon-Erne Navigation.
In August 1995, I wrote to Leitrim County Council, informing them that I had been advised by the waterways services that the State heritage services already owned waterfront property upstream and downstream of Carrick-on-Shannon bridge, and also owned associated office etc. premises in Rooskey where there was ample space for development. I also stated that the best option for the preservation of the building was to keep it in active use as a courthouse.
Subsequently, I was informed by the Minister for Justice that the cost of restoration of the building for continued use as a courthouse would substantially exceed the cost of constructing a new courthouse and was therefore not a viable option.
It is regrettable that it was not possible in this case to provide for the continued use of the building as a courthouse, as finding new and appropriate uses for old buildings such as this is difficult.
Leitrim County Council may wish to seek the advice and assistance of the statutory Heritage Council, which I appointed last year under the Heritage Act, 1995, in relation to the future use and preservation of the building. The address of the Heritage Council is 4-5 Harcourt Road, Dublin 1 (Telephone 01-4752736, Fax 01-4752739).
