Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2018
184. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Office of Public Works will commence works at a castle (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47793/18]
View answerLiscarroll Castle is a National Monument in State care and is maintained by the Office of Public Works.
Some works have already been undertaken at the Castle, most significantly, an abutting building (an old garage) has been removed. The next major task relates to the removal of the underground petrol storage tanks and this is being planned currently in conjunction with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, which is the legal owner of the property and which is responsible for providing the formal Ministerial Consent required under the National Monuments Acts before any work can be initiated.
There are a number of relevant factors to be considered before the project can be started, including archaeology and potential environmental pollution from the tank residue. Additionally however, there are signs of loose and unstable masonry at high levels of the Castle which is a significant health and safety concern and which needs to be resolved. The structure must be consolidated before substantial works on the tank removal can be undertaken. Currently, OPW is procuring a structural engineering consultant to advise on this aspect and to assist in developing a works solution.
Given competing priorities and limited resources available, it is not possible to say at this stage when work might commence on site, but it is hoped that significant progress will be made in 2019.
