Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Mar 2000

Vol. 515 No. 5

Written Answers. - National Monuments.

Ivor Callely

Question:

87 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the 14 Dublin sites of the State's national monuments and historic properties in its care; the maintenance and improvement works to be carried out in this regard in 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6452/00]

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

I assume the Deputy is referring to the 14 visitor sites open to the public in the Dublin area listed in my Department's Heritage Sites 2000 booklet. One of these sites, Dublin Castle, is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. The remaining 13 sites comprise the following: The Casino, Marino, Kilmainham Gaol, Lusk Heritage Centre, St. Enda's National Historic Park, Phoenix Park, Rathfarnham Castle, St. Audoen's Church, St. Mary's Abbey, National Botanic Gardens, Iveagh Gardens, Garden of Remembrance, St. Stephen's Green, War Memorial Gardens.

There is an annual programme at each site of ongoing minor maintenance and presentation works including improvements to roads and paths, drainage, cycle lanes, improved visitor facilities and restoration/improvement works to buildings, gardens and grounds. In addition, there is a number of large scale projects currently under way or expected to commence in 2000 as follows: National Botanic Gardens, a contract for the provision of new visitor facilities, including an audio- visual theatre, quality restaurant and tearooms and adjacent car and coach parking is well advanced. The facility is due to open mid-summer 2000; planning of the restoration of the Great Palm House is in train; Rathfarnham Castle, the final phase of restoration works under the current operational programme for tourism includes restoring the ballroom to its eighteenth century proportions, providing a new staircase in the north east tower and some repairs to interior finishes. These works will be completed in advance of the castle opening for the 2000 tourist season; Phoenix Park, work has commenced on the restoration of the walls in the Walled Garden of the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. This project is being undertaken in partnership with FÁS; work will commence on much-needed staff facilities in 2000, improvements will be carried out to the entrance to Áras an Uachtaráin from the Phoenix Monument; St. Stephen's Green, restoration of the perimeter footpaths will commence in 2000; St. Enda's, it is planned to undertake repairs to the roof of the Pearse Museum in 2000.