I have a report from the Office of Public Works.
When the then Minister of State to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Joe Bermingham, spoke in this Chamber in December last he indicated that a job which started out to repair cracks in the plasterwork of the ceiling led to the discovery of dry rot in the rafters and to the necessity to replace a large timber beam which had sagged considerably in the middle and which supports the upstand at the front of the recess. As a result of the preparatory work undertaken in the replacement of this beam by a steel girder structural weaknesses have come to light in the form of extensive cracks in the wall which supports the beam. So far these cracks have only been investigated above the level of the false, ceiling. It will now, however, be necessary to strip the wall of the Chamber itself and possibly continue down through the Library and into the foundations. What was originally a job of plaster repair work, slow and labour-intensive but largely cosmetic, has now escalated into a major structural operation.
Under the existing working arrangement these structural repairs could involve some risk to the Members of the Seanad and would take an inordinate amount of time. Consequently, the Commissioners of Public Works are submitting to me for our consideration detailed proposals for the completion of the work. These proposals will be with me within three weeks from today. Once I receive them I will bring them to your attention without delay.
