Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - National Monuments.

John McGuinness

Question:

292 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the works programme for 1998 which will be carried out by the Office of Public Works, Kilkenny depot, Industrial Estate, Hebron Road, Kilkenny; the number of employees in this regard and the skills represented in each of the years from 1994 to date in 1997; the number of men in each gang or site and the number of foremen employed; the number of sub-depots in the region in each of the years from 1994 to date in 1997; the number of sites currently being worked on; and the number of administrative staff in the Kilkenny depot and in each sub-depot if applicable. [22861/97]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The National Monuments depot located in the Hebron Road Industrial Estate, Kilkenny, is part of the National Monuments and Historic Properties Service of my Department. The works programme for 1998 provisionally provides for the carrying out of major works at the Rock of Cashel, Nenagh Castle, monuments in Roscrea, Cahir Abbey and Castle, Clonmel Mainguard, Tintern Abbey, Jerpoint Abbey, Gowran Church, Moone Church and both Reginald's Tower and the Double Tower in Waterford city. In addition, maintenance and minor repair works will be carried out at other monuments in State care as the need arises and within the resources available for these purposes.

The number of employees involved in the works and related services in the region served by the depot and the skills represented is as follows:

Skills Category	1994	1995	1996	1997
Storekeeping	2	2	3	3
Foreman	2	2	3	3
Carpenter	4	4	5	4
Stonemason	15	12	13	14
Stonecutter	3	3	3	3
General Operative	25	24	26	26
Gardener	1	1	1	1
Guide (full time)	7	6	7	7
Office/Cleaning	3	3	3	3

There are three sub-depots at Roscrea, Cashel and Tintern Abbey, Wexford.

The number of workers in each gang or site and the number of sites being worked on vary from time to time as, in addition to the sites where major works are being carried out, minor repair and maintenance works are carried out at many sites during the course of the year.