Vol. 560 No. 1
944 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will provide the full details in relation to costs incurred regarding the recent conservation and other works at the Rock of Dunamaise, County Laois. [2035/03]
An original allocation of €1.93 million was provided for the Rock of Dunamase under the National Development Programme 2000-2006. The objective of the NDP project is to stabilise, consolidate and conserve the structures on the site. Provision for interpretation has also been included. The cost to date of the first phase of works, which established the methodology to be adopted in subsequent phases, is €356,650, including professional fees. This involved comprehensive topographical and photographic and architectural surveys of the site, removal of vegetation, and provision of access routes without damage to existing ground surface. Consolidation and repair of masonry faces uncovered in the archaeological excavation and other extant masonry was carried out by skilled craftspeople using suitable lime mortars and stone. This is an internationally accepted approach to conservation works of this nature.
The second phase of the works comprises further conservation and repairs to stone walls, provision of graded access routes and site fencing. The conservation works to the walls will be quite extensive, aimed at consolidating existing structures to safeguard the castle into the future. This will be carried out in accordance with internationally accepted best practice and a feature of such works is that the resultant conservation should be unobtrusive so that the essential historical character of the castle remains. The estimated cost of this phase is €1.24 million, including consultant's fee.
