Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
219. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on restoration and maintenance of the Rock of Cashel in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the detail of such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18859/19]
View answerThe Office of Public Works recognises the importance of the Rock of Cashel as a major site in terms of the tourism industry and as a unique piece of our cultural heritage. Expenditure at Cashel falls under three general headings:
- Light Maintenance; (eg: whitewashing, weed and grass clearance, fencing, small masonry repairs etc)
- Visitor experience; (eg: Interpretation material, light and heat, general infrastructure maintenance and cleaning,, security etc)
- Elective conservation and emergency works (eg: planned conservation, retrieval and correction of structurally-unstable buildings and structures)
These works are generally undertaken by the OPW's directly-employed skilled labour force, except in cases where specialist Contractors or external service providers are employed. A significant amount of monies spent at the Rock of Cashel therefore relates to pay of OPW staff and other associated costs.
Over the last number of years, a number of significant projects have been undertaken at the site including the successful project to conserve the structure of Cormacs Chapel, one of the most significant early Romanesque buildings in the country, and to eliminate water ingress thereby saving the remaining fragments of an immensely important scheme of wall paintings which it contains. These works were substantially completed in 2017 and have been followed with regular ongoing monitoring to ensure that the internal environment of the structure remains stable for the future.
For future planning purposes, new LV and ELV ducting has been installed at the site in 2017/2018. Additionally, a new LED floodlighting system was provided in 2018 to replace the earlier outdated installation.
The attached Table gives the information required by the Deputy and relates to those monies expended from the OPW National Monuments Budget allocation.
