I realise that but I was speaking in the context of the Parliamentary Secretary's speech where he referred to Garda stations. He referred, too, to school sites and the construction of school buildings. Again, this is an agency situation whereby the Board of Works find themselves assisting the Department of Education. In my constituency there are some major problems in regard to the provision of school sites and new school buildings. In Swords where there is a rapidly expanding population and where there are large numbers of children the problem is very serious. I appeal to the Parliamentary Secretary to ensure that all possible co-operation will be given by his office to the school manager there so that a school may be erected as quickly as possible. I am aware that the Department of Education are assisting in this matter. The same situation arises in respect of the acquisition of school sites as that which I have described in relation to sites for Garda stations.
I turn now to the question of national monuments. In this regard, the Parliamentary Secretary said, as reported at column 16 of the Official Report for the 7th June, 1973:
. . . there is a growing emphasis on the proper presentation of monuments and this year it is planned to extend the guide information service during the tourist season . . .
The Parliamentary Secretary went on to mention the various places to which this service would be extended but one place he did not mention was Dunsoghley Castle at St. Margarets. This is a very fine national monument. It is close to the main Ashbourne road as one goes from Finglas. More efforts should be made by the Department to provide car parking and a proper guide service as well as other amenities at this castle. The round tower in Lusk has been a national monument for many years. The remarks I made with regard to Dunsoghley apply in this case also.
I asked the Parliamentary Secretary a question about the money which was given by the Swords Progressive Preservation Society for the restoration and renovation of Swords Castle. The reply I received stated that Swords Castle is in private ownership and is a national monument in the guardianship of the Commissioners of Public Works. It also stated that under the National Monuments Act, the Commissioners have the duty of preserving and maintaining the castle but they are not empowered under the Act to spend money on restoration work. I was told in the reply that a sum of £1,000 was contributed by the Swords Progressive Preservation Society towards the cost of restoring the chapel and the main entrance of the castle, but this amount fell far short of the total estimate for the proposed restoration works which was of the order of £15,000. I was told that as the owner's consent was not at that time obtained no further action could be taken by the Office of Public Works.
With due respect to the Parliamentary Secretary, some action should be taken to secure the consent of the owner. I am sure it is not beyond the powers of the Parliamentary Secretary to devise some scheme whereby this necessary work can be carried out. The goodwill of the people in Swords has been demonstrated by the fact that £1,000 has been collected by the preservation society and has been presented to the Department. This alone deserves a quid pro quo from the Department to see that some work is carried out. I suggest that the Department could take some steps to get the owner's consent.
Swords Castle has many connections with our history. The proper name of the area is Swords Colmcille because of its connections with the saint and many of our great leaders passed through Swords. We should not neglect to carry out the necessary restoration work I have outlined. The contribution of £1,000 towards this work has been a unique gesture by the people of the area. I will leave the matter with the Parliamentary Secretary and I know he will give it his attention.
The Parliamentary Secretary referred to the Grand Canal and the Royal Canal. In the 1972 Development Plan for the county of Dublin which was adopted by the Dublin County Council reference was made to the canals. Under the heading "Preservation and Conservation" it is stated:
Where in development areas such features exist including canals, these will be made use of to the maximum in developing the amenity content of the new urban areas.
The Royal Canal is connected with Blanchardstown which is one of the rapidly expanding areas. It can be regarded as a city within a county and it will have a population in the region of from 120,000 to 130,000. I should like if the Parliamentary Secretary could assist the Dublin County Council in the development of this amenity for the Blanchardstown area. Sections of the Grand Canal are used for boating and there is a connection to the midlands. I would ask that the Office of Public Works carry out development work on this amenity.
The people in County Dublin are grateful to the Office of Public Works for the work they have done and for their declaration of some monuments as national monuments, including the church on St. Patrick's Island in Skerries. There are many other valuable and historical buildings in County Dublin that are worthy of consideration by the Office of Public Works and I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to take them into account.
For example, there is the Malahide Castle, gardens and church. I do not want to go into this subject in detail but I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to keep it in mind. There is also the Braemore Castle and church, the castle and church at Balrothery and Portrane Castle which has connections with Dean Swift. This has been noted as a protected building under the County Dublin Development Plan but perhaps the section dealing with national monuments might take note of this also.
In North County Dublin there are a number of Martello Towers. There are towers at Portmarnock, Malahide, Donabate, Portrane, Rush, Skerries, Balbriggan et cetera. All of these have a place in our history. They are landmarks in North County Dublin and I hope they will come under the attention of the Office of Public Works.
I should like to mention the round tower, the church tower and the Cross in Swords. This is a special landmark in the County Dublin area and the Swords Progressive Preservation Society are carrying out guide services similar to those operated by the Office of Public Works on national monuments. They are doing an excellent job and they are preparing their own brochures but the Office of Public Works could do something to help them.
One of the oldest fortifications in the country is at Dromonagh, in Loughshinny, an area between Rush and Skerries. There are only embankments left but it is one of the old timber fortifications. Now there is a Martello Tower at that spot. Unless the Office of Public Works do something to protect these fortifications we will lose them for posterity. We must protect all these monuments not only for ourselves but for our children. What we fail to protect today will be in ruins tomorrow, will disappear the following day and will be forgotten afterwards. It is essential that the Office of Public Works extend their responsibilities in this connection, with particular reference to the old fortification at Loughshinny.
I could mention various other monuments, the gateway of Finrure Park, St. Catharine's Well, Martello Towers and so on, but I shall simply ask the Parliamentary Secretary to consider those I have particularly mentioned.
He mentioned the office buildings used by the Department. I am delighted that it is his intention to continue the policy of construction rather than renting. I always thought it very desirable that Civil Service offices should be housed in buildings owned by the State rather than leased from private enterprise which undoubtedly has a very important part to play in our national economy but Civil Service offices should primarily be provided by the Government.
Reference was made to the desirability of protecting Phoenix Park amenities and the undesirability of having any buildings on it. Nobody wants to see more buildings here. The park is being used at present to a great extent by various riding schools situated on its outskirts. It is right that a large area such as the park should be used for this recreation which is growing in popularity in the Dublin area—with one proviso. At present the horses are wandering throughout the whole park, leaving hoof-marks in football grounds and so on, and if the ground is soft these grounds can be destroyed. I suggest that the Parliamentary Secretary consider the provision of a horsetrack such as, for example, exists in Hyde Park, London, to which horses could be restricted. It could be constructed in sand as in Hyde Park or in peat moss or in one of many different materials.
I am delighted to know that the public golf course there is going ahead. Golf has become one of the major recreations of Dublin people whether the full game or the pitchand-putt variety for which courses are now dotted all around the city. We should do all in our power to promote golf. Aware of this need, we in Dublin County Council purchased Corballis Golf Links and developed it as a public course. It has the disadvantage of being a bit away from the centre of the city. The new public golf course will have the advantage of being central. From our experience in County Dublin I suggest to the Parliamentary Secretary the desirability of having proper club facilities. It is no use having only shower facilities and changing rooms; the normal facilities associated with the normal golf club should be available at public courses. It is necessary to have a fulltime steward, cooks and so on, so that people can get meals after a game. Golf is not just a game for which one goes in and changes, then plays 18 holes, changes, showers and goes home; there are social elements involved. Those using public golf courses are entitled to the same facilities as those using a private golf course. The Parliamentary Secretary should consider having normal facilities such as bar, restaurant and full professional services and professional shop. I am sure there are many professionals who would be willing to take on stewarding at a public golf course.
Deputy Ruairí Brugha mentioned the concert hall and, unless I misinterpreted him, said he was not in favour of the project. As a capital city I think we should have a concert hall and not in the distant future but very soon. The cultural life of any city without a concert hall is sadly lacking. It is an essential amenity.
The Parliamentary Secretary was not here at the beginning and I am very grateful to him for coming in and sitting there all afternoon listening. In his absence I complimented him on his appointment. I referred to the fact that as this is the Government of the Pale I was delighted to see at least one man of the west there. I also observed that there was probably only one better thing than a man from Mayo and that was the son of a man from Mayo, born in County Dublin.