Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 3

Written Answers. - Historical Sites.

John McGuinness

Question:

117 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if the scaffolding has been certified at Tullaherin Tower, Kilkenny; the date on which the scaffolding was erected; the cost to date of the scaffolding; the number of times the scaffolding was used; if the work programme as promised on 4 July 2002 is complete; the work undertaken on site to date; the funds allocated to the site for 2003 and 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16337/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

Scaffolding was erected at Tullaherin Tower in November 2001 at a cost of €25,355.08. The scaffolding has been used by architects, engineers and surveyors for inspections on the tower's condition. The work to date includes a completed stone survey and mortar sampling. A short programme of works will bring the scaffolding to the appropriate standard and it will be certified as a working platform prior to the commencement of the works programme in July 2003. An allocation of €40,000 has been made for 2003; no provision has yet been finalised for 2004.

John McGuinness

Question:

118 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the place of purchase of the fixtures and fittings for Gowran Church; if not purchased locally, if the collection costs were included in the tender; and the names of the successful contractor and the two under bidders involved in the tendering process. [16338/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

Fittings and fixtures for Gowran Church were purchased from the following suppliers: the Panelling Centre, 109 Longmile Road, Dublin 12 – flat pack kitchen at a cost of €2,458.38; no delivery charge was made by the supplier; Chadwicks Limited, Hebron Road, Kilkenny – sanitary fittings at a cost of €1,097.16. A single quotation was sought for the above items as permitted under public procurement arrangements for purchases of this size.

John McGuinness

Question:

119 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a converted, unsafe second hand container for use as an office was delivered to Kells Priory, Kilkenny on 20 February 2003, removed after complaints on 24 March 2003 and replaced by another in the same condition with the addition of objectionable graffiti; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that it is still there in full view of tourists; the person who is responsible for the purchase and inspection of these containers; the number of same in Dúchas; the cost of purchase or weekly leasing; if tendering procedures have been fully complied with; and the person responsible if these containers cause an accident. [16339/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

Responsibility at local level for managing the above procurement arrangements and for the general management of the works at Kells Priory rests with the project architect assigned from my Department's staff. There are at present four accommodation units on the Kells Priory site – a storage container, a canteen/staff room, a foreman's office and the sub-standard container, which is awaiting removal by the supplier. No charges will be incurred in respect of this container. The storage and canteen containers cost €1,400, plus VAT, and €8,050, plus VAT, respectively, and the foreman's office will cost €5,950, plus VAT and delivery charges. Three prices were secured for all units and the contract was placed with the lowest cost supplier in each case.

John McGuinness

Question:

120 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 387 of 15 October 2002, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the repointing of Kells Priory is still at an experimental stage with regard to mortar mix seven months after work began; his views on the fact that Dúchas does not seem to know the type of mortar to use on a national monument at this stage; the reason mortar mix is a problem; the amount which has been spent of the ?300,000 allocated on the four workmen employed on the site; and his views on the fact that no meaningful progress is being made on this site. [16340/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

In order to ascertain the most appropriate mortar mixes for use at Kells, various lime mortar mixes have been tested. The appropriate mortar mixes in relation to the building and repointing works at this site have now been established. Works began on this site in November 2002. The wages bill on the site since the start of the year is €57,965.28. The first phase consisted of the setting up of a sub-depot, including the construction of a storage block and bays for storage of aggregate, the provision of vehicular access to the works area, the repointing of the masonry chancel wall, Priors Tower and south wall, along with fencing barriers, gateposts and other site safety works.

John McGuinness

Question:

121 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 22 October 2002, the number of subcontractors involved on the renovation of Gartan Lodge, Glenveigh National Park; the value of each contract; the number of Dúchas staff involved in the project and their cost; if plans, specifications, schedules, budgets or quotations prepared and made, were available to the general foreman in charge of the project; and the person who in GNP had overall responsibility for the project. [16341/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

Three subcontractors were engaged on the renovation of Gartan Lodge, Glenveigh National Park. These contract works related to (a) repairs to the plumbing system at a cost of €11,883.33, (b) electrical works at a cost of €2,056.98 and (c) supply and fitting of electrical insulation system at a cost €1,328.15. I regret that due to an administrative error the use of external contractors in respect of the works at (b) and (c) was not adverted to in the reply to Question No. 426 of 13 May 2003.

Ten members of departmental staff, including the building maintenance foreman, were involved at various stages in the works carried out at Gartan Lodge which were completed in April 2001. It is not possible to supply detailed data in relation to labour costs as workers were moved out to other jobs from time to time during the course of the refurbishment works. Specific records are not available which would enable my Department to provide a project-specific total for person hours. Subsequent to the works at Gartan Lodge, a revised procedure for the estimation and approval of individual projects, as well as better cost controls, have been introduced.

The works initially proposed by regional management envisaged minor repairs to the plumbing and heating systems to allow the occupant move into the gate lodge without delay as the accommodation was urgently required and no plans, specifications, schedules or budgets were developed at that stage. Quotations which were required were made available to the building maintenance foreman. The project was carried out under the overall responsibility of the relevant regional manager of my Department's national parks and wildlife section.