Written Answers. - Courthouse Refurbishment.
John Ellis
Question:
102
Mr. Ellis
asked the
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
when funds will be provided by his Department for the restoration of the old courthouse, that is the former county council offices at Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim in view of the fact that his Department objected to the proposals for the site by Leitrim County Council.
[6588/97]
In September 1994, in response to a newspaper report that Carrick-on-Shannon courthouse was in danger of destruction because of plans by Leitrim County Council to demolish it and build new civic offices on the site, I called on the county council to consult and take the advice of the then National Heritage Council before coming to any decision on the matter.
In October 1994, the then Minister for the Environment, Deputy Michael Smith, informed the county council that he would be reluctant to approve its proposals for the domolition of the building and the construction of new civic offices on the site in view of the building's significant architectural merit. He indicated to the council that if it was not possible to provide modern office accommodation to meet the council's requirements within the fabric of the courthouse building (if restored), he would favourably consider a proposal for a new building on a green field site elsewhere. He asked the council to simultaneously explore options for alternative cultural-heritage or other uses for the courthouse.
As I stated in my reply to Question No. 100 of 6 February 1996, the council informed me it 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 it had, therefore, decided to proceed with the provision of new civic offices at another location. It 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 it that the Heritage Service of my Department already owned waterfront property upstream and downstream of Carrick-on-Shannon bridge, as well as premises in Rooskey where there was ample space for development, and stating 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. I understand that the county council is currently discussing with the Heritage Council the question of the future use of the building.
An application has been received by my Department under phase II of the cultural development incentives scheme, (CDIS) 1994-99, for the development of the building as an integrated arts and culture centre. I have taken decisions as to the allocation, in principle, of grant assistance in respect of a number of applications received under phase II off the CDIS. The application in respect of the Carrick-on-Shannon arts and culture centre project has not been successful at this stage.
However, in anticipation of the possibility that some of the applications which have received offers, in principle, of grant assistance under phases I and II of the CDIS will not go ahead within the timescale of the current round of Structural Funds, I am drawing up a stand-by list of projects which may be considered for assistance in due course in this eventuality. I hope to be in a position to make my decision on the projects to be included in that list in the very near future.
