Vol. 534 No. 4
193 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the rapid deterioration of Connolly's Folly, Maynooth, County Kildare; if she intends to put in place any measures to arrest the erosion of the structure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11044/01]
I refer the Deputy to my response of 21 February 2001, to Parliamentary Question No. 143. The position remains unchanged from that outlined in my reply. The architectural advice available to my Department is that the folly is not under immediate threat, while the priority for Castletown House continues to be the restoration of the house itself together with the provision of visitor facilities and works to the grounds and auxiliary buildings surrounding the house.
194 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the extent of the refurbishment works to date carried out on the Geraldine Castle, Maynooth, County Kildare; the degree to which the proposed funding has been expended to date; the extent to which extra funding will be required and made available to meet all advised or envisaged works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11045/01]
As the Deputy is aware the first phase of the restoration of Maynooth Castle comprises the adaptation and conservation of the ground floor and the provision of access to the first floor. This work is at an advanced stage and I expect this element of the project to be complete in the near future. Once the interior of the Castle is complete, work will commence on site reinstatement. Preparation of the exhibition is also under way. The total spend to date on the restoration of Maynooth Castle is £839,036. I am satisfied that the project being undertaken can be completed within the available budget of £1.5 million. I am also satisfied that the project remains on target for completion in the second half of this year.
