This nine months' Estimate has been derived from a figure of £20,608,000 for the 12-month period 1st April, 1974, to 31st March 1975, which estimate represents an increase of £2,794,000 on the total amount voted for Public Works and Buildings in 1973-74.
As Deputies are aware, the nine month accounting period arises following the enactment of the Exchequer and Local Financial Years Act, 1974, which provides for a change in the financial year to a calendar year basis from 1st January, 1975, and for the operation of a transitional financial "year" consisting of the nine month period from 1st April, 1974, to 31st December, 1974.
I should mention at the outset that the cost of the 15th round national pay agreement is not included in the sum of £14,981,000 now being sought, because the national pay agreement, 1974, was not finalised in time to enable its cost to be distributed over the individual departmental estimates, including this one. General provision for the cost of the 15th round is made in the Estimate for Vote 50 which will be presented by the Minister for the Public Service. Deputies will find an explanatory note on this subject at the back of the title page of the abridged version of the Book of Estimates. I will now comment on the various subheads that make up the Estimate for Vote 9.
Subheads A, B and C cover the administrative expenses of the Office of Public Works.
The provision under subhead D covers purchases of sites and premises for various Government services including the acquisition of the fee simple of some existing leasehold properties. The subhead provides also for the purchase of land required for the national monuments service and far national parks and amenity areas. I might mention in connection with the former that the arbitration proceedings to determine the amount to be paid in the case of the lands at Tara, County Meath, are expected to be completed in the near future.
As I informed the House recently in reply to a question on this subject, the National Parks and Monuments Branch of my office is at present studying certain areas of outstanding natural beauty and scientific interest to see if they would be suitable for the establishment of national parks. A few such areas have been accepted as meeting the necessary criteria for inclusion in a system of national parks.
I am now happy to announce the successful conclusion of negotiations for the acquisition by the Commissioners from the owner, Mr. H.P. McIlhenny, of the Glenveagh Estate, County Donegal. This magnificent estate, containing about 25,000 acres of great natural beauty with a garden area which has, under Mr. McIlhenny's direction, become one of the finest gardens in this country, will be preserved and maintained in perpetuity as a national park for the use, enjoyment and the recreation of all our people.
The commissioners have no compulsory powers for the acquisition of properties for national park purposes. This transaction would not have been possible, therefore, without the interest and goodwill of Mr. McIlhenny. Furthermore, I must add that a very generous gesture by him in the course of the negotiations constitutes a considerable contribution to the National Park project.
Mr. McIlhenny's home is in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, but as his forbears were from Ireland it is not surprising that he should have purchased Glenveagh Estate in the 1930s as a summer base. On graduating from Harvard University he joined the staff of the Museum of Philadelphia where he was to become Curator of Decorative Arts and Vice-President. His personal collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture is of outstanding quality and importance.
As well as being a patron of the Arts, Mr. McIlhenny is famous as a host not only in Philadelphia but also at Glenveagh Castle where it has been his practice to entertain his many friends during his vacations there.
His generous gesture in relation to the national park project is in the best tradition of our Irish-American people and will earn the gratitude of all those who will enjoy the beauty and tranquility of this magnificent area in the years to come.
Announcements will be made from time to time as to the extent to which the area will be available to the public.
Negotiations have been opened for the acquisition of other areas of outstanding quality. I do not wish to expand on this matter while negotiations are still taking place but I hope that I will be able to report further progress by this time next year.
I know from the interest which Deputies and the general public have shown in the subject of national parks in recent times that they regard expenditure on such amenities as money well spent. There has been a growing appreciation of the important contribution which national parks can make to the cultural, educational, social and economic well-being of a people. The creation of national parks has been assuming a new urgency in the face of social changes and industrial developments which threaten even the most unspoiled areas which hitherto appeared inviolable.
As far back as February, 1970, the Council of Europe urged governments to "identify and safeguard areas especially suited for national parks, for animal and plant reserves, and sites of scientific, historic, educational and scenic interest". Likewise the first resolution passed at the Second World Conference on National Parks held in the United States in September, 1972, called upon all governments to "widen the coverage of their protected areas so as to ensure that adequate and representative samples of natural biomes and ecosystems throughout the world are conserved in a co-ordinated system of national parks and related protected areas and that the selection and setting aside of such areas should be considered as an essential element in regional and national land-use planning".
The creation of a comprehensive national park system for Ireland will take some years to accomplish but the programme will be pursued as vigorously as financial and manpower resources allow. I believe that I will have the support of all sides of the House and of the public at large in this objective.
I will have more to say on the running of existing national parks under subheads E and F1.
A list of the works for which provision is made under subhead E has been supplied to Deputies. I will refer briefly to the more significant items.
Under item 1 (3) proposals to provide additional accommodation for the Houses and staff of the Oireachtas are being considered and provision is made for the execution of a suitable scheme.
Under item 2, the accommodation at ground floor and basement levels under the State Apartments at present occupied by the Stamping Branch of the Revenue Commissioners will be vacated shortly and it is proposed to utilise it as ancillary accommodation for the State Apartments. Considerable preparatory work will be involved, and it will be some time before proposals are worked out.
Items 3 to 44, accounting for a total provision of £1,193,000 fall under the generic heading of "Finance". Provision is made for the final stages of the building works for the Public Service and Revenue computers, the Stamping Branch and provincial offices at Drogheda, Tralee and Letterkenny. Projects in progress or in planning include Monaghan Customs Road station, printing buildings for the Ordnance Survey, new offices and fitting out of rented offices for Government staffs in Dublin, provincial offices at Mullingar, Roscommon and Waterford, the restoration of Scoil Éanna, Stage II, and the restoration of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Stage II.
Stage 1 of the computer building at Inchicore is completed and the computer is in full operation. Planning for Stage II to provide office accommodation for the staff directly associated with the computer system is proceeding.
The work at the new Stamping Branch has been completed and the top floor is now occupied. Occupation of the other floors is proceeding in stages.
The main work in connection with the computer at Kilmainham for Revenue collection work is completed and the computer is in operation.
Planning for the new Customs Road Station at Monaghan is well advanced and it is expected that the work of erection will commence later this year. As Deputies for the area will be aware, the present station because of its location and the increase in motor traffic, can no longer be regarded as safe.
I referred last year to the general problem of office accommodation for Government staffs in Dublin and to the commencement of a programme whereby the State would design and erect its own office buildings. Substantial progress has been made with planning for a number of projects. It is hoped that tenders can be invited this year in respect of the erection of modern offices for the Geological Survey Office, the Meteorological Office, the headquarters of the Garda and the provision of some extra space for the Veterinary College at Ballsbridge.
The erection of the new printing building for the Ordnance Survey is expected to commence shortly.
A new office building at Drogheda, and an extension to the Custom House at Tralee have been completed and a new office building is nearing completion in Letterkenny. New offices for Mullingar, Roscommon and Waterford are being planned.
Planning has been proceeding for the building at Clonskeagh for the Institute of Public Administration and the Department of the Public Service training centre. It is hoped that work will commence next year.
This concerns the restoration of Scoil Éanna, Rathfarnham. Working drawings for Stage II of the restoration work, which will involve the complete internal rehabilitation of the buildings, are completed, and it is hoped to go to tender within the next few months.
Planning for Stage II of the restoration of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham is in progress but at this point it is not possible to say when work will commence.
Provision is made for adaptation works to the south block of Government Buildings following the transfer of Department of Agriculture and Fisheries staff to the new office building in Kildare Place.
Provision is made for the installation of a standby generator to provide lighting for certain areas in Government Buildings in the event of power failure or cuts.
There is also provision for the continuation of a scheme to improve landing facilities at Clare Island, County Mayo, which is being done in the interests of transport and communication. The scheme consists of widening the pier, raising the level of its deck, providing a sloping quay, a crane, a winch and a boat cradle. It is hoped to complete it next year.
A further provision is for the removal of portion of the structures on the East Pier at Dún Laoghaire which were provided as a temporary measure in 1965, pending the installation of the permanent car ferry terminal at St. Michael's Wharf. The work will be done in conjunction with proposed alterations at the Mail Boat pier covered by the next item.
I explained last year that British Rail were introducing a new type of ship at Dún Laoghaire, a multi-purpose ship which can accommodate both passengers with cars and without and that this would entail the construction of a ramp at the Mail Boat pier to unload the cars and a causeway connecting the Mail Boat pier to St. Michael's Wharf. The work did not proceed last year as British Rail ran into difficulties with their end of the work at Holyhead. These difficulties have now been resolved and a contract has been placed for the works at Dún Laoghaire. It is expected that they will be completed early in 1975.
A total provision of £14,000 is being made for various improvements in the Bourne Vincent Memorial Park. Work which was begun on the modernisation of the park workshops last year has been progressing satisfactorily and will be continued this year. Work is also continuing on the provision of public toilets and the construction of a new road for jaunting cars which will add considerably to the amenity value of the park.
The present water supply and sewage disposal systems at Muckross House are unsatisfactory. Plans are being prepared to improve the systems and actual work will, I hope, commence this year.
After many frustrations a contract was finally placed for the restoration of the picture gallery wing of Kilkenny Castle, and work on the site began in October, 1973. The job is progressing satisfactorily and, when it is completed, the fine picture gallery will have been restored to its former splendour.
Last year, I gave the House some particulars regarding the proposed golf course at the Phoenix Park extension along the banks of the River Liffey, and I had hoped that this year I could report substantial progress. Unfortunately, little progress has been made on the project during the past year. The layout plan for the course had been settled and contract documents were well in hand when revised road widening plans were received from Dublin Corporation. If these proposals are carried through in their present form, a large area of the golf course site will be lost, and this will mean that the whole project will have to be reappraised. It may, therefore, be necessary to settle for something less than a full 18-hole course. At this stage, I can give the House no indication as to the likely outcome. Discussions have already been held with the corporation and further discussions will be necessary before a final scheme can be agreed.
The River Shannon cruiseway continues to increase in importance as a tourism asset, and the various improvement works proposed will help to meet the continuing demand for facilities there. Work on the new jetty at Hodson's Bay and the extension of the pier at Mountshannon will be continued this year. My office has joined with Bord Fáilte in commissioning a comprehensive study of the waterway by a firm of planning consultants. Preliminary reports by the consultants have been most informative, and the study is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The results of this study will, I hope, form the basis of a general development programme for the waterway for a number of years to come.
Provision is being made for new works at a number of national monuments. These consist of visitor centres and new or improved accommodation for depots for the servicing of the monuments.
Work is in progress on the provision of visitor centres at Dunmore Cave, County Kilkenny, and at the Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary, and it is hoped that both will be completed by 1975.
A provision is also included for a visitor centre at Clonmacnoise and a national monuments depot at Killarney.
The sum of £368,000 is being provided for works for the Department of Justice, mainly for the erection of new Garda stations, the improvement of existing stations and for the erection of temporary courts in Dublin.
The improvements to the Garda Technical Bureau at St. John's Road are well advanced and should be completed by the end of the year.
Provision is made for accommodation for the Garda research and planning unit and for improvements to the commissioner's office. It is expected that this work will be completed within the current year.
Provision is included for works at present in progress on new stations or major improvements at some 15 centres. Tenders are about to be invited for a new central headquarters in Limerick, for new district headquarters in Ballyshannon and for smaller stations at three other centres. Planning has reached an advanced stage in 17 other cases and it is hoped that tenders can be invited by the end of the year.
Last year I mentioned the pressing need for additional accommodation for the courts. Progress here has been slowed down by the emergence of new planning proposals for the area in the vicinity of the courts, but it is hoped to proceed at least with the plans for the temporary courts this year.
Work commenced recently and is progressing satisfactorily on the erection of new office buildings for the Department of Education at Athlone. The contract is due for completion in the latter half of 1975.
The grant expenditure on the building and improvement of primary schools last year was approximately £6,600,000 which represented an average expenditure of approximately £550,000 per month, the highest on record. The amount included for school building and improvement in the estimate for the current period of nine months is £5,030,000 and this will enable the monthly expenditure rate of last year to be maintained. A large proportion of the money will again be spent on the erection of schools in newly developing areas of towns and cities.
The provision of special schools for physically and mentally handicapped children is continuing. Works were completed last year on six new schools. Works are at present in progress in 14 such schools and 11 projects are at various stages of preparation.
The work on the erection of the new offices at Castlebar for the Department of Lands is proceeding and the contract is due for completion early in 1975.
The provisions for fitting out the new office block in Kildare Place and for buildings for research, training and advisory services for the Department of Agriculture amount to £297,000. The items include a regional veterinary research laboratory at Limerick, a milking parlour, a farm manager's residence and an incinerator at Abbotstown, research facilities at Thorndale, a district veterinary office at Carlow, and an extension to the quarantine station at Spike Island, County Cork. Work at the new office block at Kildare Place is virtually completed and occupation of the building is proceeding in stages. It is expected that occupation will be completed during the summer.
The new meteorological station at Mullingar is virtually completed.
A sum of £312,000 is included for works for the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. The erection of new post offices at Dungarvan and Listowel is in progress and it is expected that a tender for a new post office at Donegal will be accepted shortly. Planning of new post offices for Clonmel, Longford, Mullingar and Shannon and of modernisation schemes for post offices at other provincial centres is proceeding. The architectural competition held for the design of the new post office in Tipperary was very successful and the winning design will, I feel sure, result in a building which can justly take its place as an important feature of the town which it will serve. Contracts have been placed for the erection of a new sorting office at Baldoyle, County Dublin and for the installation of a ventilation system in the Central Sorting Office, Dublin.
In addition to the works covered by this Estimate, the Office of Public Works will carry out for the Department of Posts and Telegraphs works in connection with the telephone services estimated to cost about £1,200,000 which will be met from the Telephone Capital Account. The greater part of subhead F.1 is spent on normal day-to-day maintenance of Government offices, post office buildings, Garda Síochána stations, employment exchanges, social welfare offices and agricultural institutions. The balance covers maintenance of this country's diplomatic missions abroad; of the three State harbours at Dún Laoghaire, Howth and Dunmore East; and of the river Shannon navigation and of the various national parks.
These parks, apart from affording opportunities for open air recreation and leisure, serve as very solid links with our historic past. Last year I referred to the historic island of Innisfallen which had been presented to the nation by Mr. John McShain and which now forms part of the Killarney National Park, and, of course, the park also contains the well-preserved ruins of Muckross Abbey. Derrynane National Historic Park serves as a memorial to one of our most successful parliamentarians, the great Liberator, Daniel O'Connell. Kilkenny Castle Park mirrors the history of that area over a long period going back to the time of Strongbow and brings to mind the influence of the Normans. More recent history is represented by St. Enda's Park, Rathfarnham, where Patrick Pearse established his Irish-speaking school. I mention these points because many people do not realise that our parks as well as our monuments, are important elements in our historic heritage.
We get an ever-increasing number of requests from schools and from visitors from abroad for information about our parks and we have decided to produce a series of attractive leaflets for all our parks which we hope will meet this demand.
The other important function which our parks can fulfil is in the field of environmental education. National parks offer a great opportunity for the study of natural communities and ecosystems and discussions are proceeding between the National Parks and Monuments Branch and the Department of Education regarding the provision of facilities for field studies in the parks. Even in city parks such as St. Stephen's Green and Phoenix Park there is scope for environmental education programmes especially for younger students. This is being actively examined.
Before leaving the subject of parks I should like to refer to a matter which has been the subject of some publicity in recent months and this is the question of deer conservation. Three species of deer exist in Ireland—Red deer, Japanese Sika deer, and Fallow deer and all three species are to be found in parks under the care of the commissioners. There is a herd of about 250 Fallow deer in the Phoenix Park while the other two species can be seen in the national park at Killarney. The Killarney Red deer are commonly accepted as being the last survivors of the native stock which once flourished in Ireland. The most recent count put their numbers at about 200. Although the indications are that their numbers have been increasing in recent years this is still a critically low level for our largest native mammal and the National Parks and Monuments Branch appreciate the special responsibility they bear, along with other landowners in the Killarney region, to conserve them and improve their prospects of survival. A scientific research project has been in progress for the past few years, under the commissioners' sponsorship, into the state of the herd, their feeding habits and behaviour. The results of this project will be available shortly and should help in the formulation of a sound management policy for the Red deer.
The Sika deer were introduced into Ireland in the last century and are now far more numerous than the Red deer although estimates of their numbers vary widely. In recent years they have been coming under criticism from various quarters for the alleged damage they cause to established woodlands, ornamental trees and shrubs and young seedlings. More recently it has been suggested that hybridisation might occur between the Red and Sika deer as has happened in County Wicklow. Some people have suggested that because of these criticisms the Sika deer should be drastically reduced in numbers or even totally eliminated. The publicity which these suggestions have received has, I think, contributed to the recent increase in deer poaching at Killarney.
There is a mistaken feeling that no law exists to protect the deer at Killarney. Let me clear up this point once and for all. Under the park bye-laws no person shall "ill-treat, worry or disturb any deer or other animal in the Park", "discharge any firearm", or "enter upon any part of the Park while carrying or being in possession of any firearms except with the permission in writing of the Commissioners." The commissioners intend to enforce these bye-laws rigidly and are currently tightening up their wardening and patrol service.
As to the future of the Sika deer, a sound management policy must be scientifically based. As in the case of the Red deer, a scientific research project has been in progress for the past four years—and is still proceeding—into the Sika deer. The national Parks and Monuments Branch is also supporting research into the problem of natural regeneration in the Killarney oakwoods and the relationships between this and the populations of deer and other animals. When the results of the various research projects become available we will be in a better position to decide on a management policy for the deer.
Subhead F2 provides for the supply of replacement furniture and of additional items required for existing State buildings. The provision of £273,000 sought is, pro rata, approximately the same as the final provision for 1973-74. Furniture for new buildings is paid for out of subhead E.
As in previous years subhead F3 which provides for rents shows an increase due to the leasing of additional office accommodation for expanding staffs of various Departments and to increases in rents. Most of the extra accommodation is required by the Revenue Commissioners, the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Social Welfare.
Subhead F4 bears the cost of fuel and light for Government offices. Increases in the cost of these commodities together with the demand for higher standards in new and existing accommodation account for the provision needed under this subhead.
Subhead F5 is required to meet the cost of compensation, etc. arising from damage to the property of external governments. By far the greater part of this provision will be expended on the former British Embassy office at Merrion Square, damaged in February 1972. This property has been acquired by the Electricity Supply Board and they are carrying out the restoration on behalf of the Office of Public Works. A small sum will be required to make good damage caused to the premises of the Spanish Cultural Institute on 2nd March, 1974.
Subhead F6 is required to meet the balance of expenditure by the Office of Public Works on repairs to Drogheda Courthouse. The Minister for Justice, acting under section 6 of the Courthouses (Provision and Maintenance Act, 1935, directed the Commissioners of Public Works to put the accommodation at this courthouse into proper order. The work is virtually completed. The costs and expenses incurred by the commissioners on the work are, under the Act referred to, recoverable from Louth County Council.
The G subheads provide for expenditure in connection with the arterial drainage programme which is being carried out under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945.
Subhead G1 provides for the carrying out of hydrometric studies and of comprehensive drainage surveys which are a necessary preliminary to the preparation of arterial drainage schemes. The amount which is being requested for this subhead for the nine-month period is £52,000. On a 12-month basis the amount needed would have been £61,200 compared with a provision of £40,500 in 1973-74. Most of the provision is needed to continue hydrometric investigations which, incidentally, provide valuable information in regard to the country's water resources. The amount included for catchment surveys is £2,000.
The report of the cost/benefit study, to which I referred last year, will, I understand, be available shortly. Meanwhile a start has been made on a study of the Corrib-Mask-Robe catchment area.
Subhead G2 provides for drainage works in progress. The sum of £1,035,000 is being requested for the period 1st April, 1974, to 31st December, 1974. For a full year the estimated expenditure would be £1,374,500 compared with £1,026,000 for 1973-74. The schemes in progress at present are the Boyne and the Maigue, both of which are major schemes. The bigger of the two, the Boyne, started in 1969 and for some years has been operating at more or less maximum level.
Variations in expenditure on the Boyne at this stage are largely attributable to increases in wages and other costs. The Maigue is in the process of build-up from its start in November, 1973, so the provision for it is considerably higher than for 1973-74.
Subhead G3, for which £565,000 is being requested, provides for the maintenance of completed drainage schemes and embankment works. On the basis of a full year the amount needed would have been £703,400 as compared with a provision of £643,200 in 1973-74. The cost of this work is recovered from the county councils.
I am asking for £413,000 for subhead H for the purchase and maintenance of engineering plant and machinery, the purchase of stores, and the payment of wages to the workshop staffs. This figure is approximately the same as the pro rata figure for 1973-74.
Subhead I bears the cost of coast protection works schemes at Rossnowlagh, County Donegal and Youghal, County Cork, have recently been completed. A scheme has been prepared for Enniscrone, County Sligo and it is hoped that work will commence there before the end of the year. Preliminary examinations under the Coast Protection Act, 1963 have been carried out at Ballyvoile, County Waterford, and at the Maharees, County Kerry but the proposals are not expected to be sufficiently developed to give rise to expenditure this year. The subhead also covers the maintenance of completed schemes, four in all, though the cost of this is recovered from the county councils involved and is taken in as appropriations-in-aid.
I am aware, from the large number of inquiries I receive, that Deputies would wish to secure greater progress on coast protection generally. I have explained to Deputies who have been concerned about remedying storm damage, that the Office of Public Works cannot carry out such work and may undertake only protection work which fulfils the conditions of the Act. The procedures required under the Act are protracted and the design of a scheme involves prolonged and detailed study with a high degree of specialised engineering skills. The period between the receipt of an application from local authority and the commencement of actual work could run into some years, and when I point out that there are about 40 proposals submitted by local authorities under the Act awaiting attention, the extent of the problem will be understood.
Under subhead J1 provision is made for the conservation, maintenance and presentation of national monuments and for archaeologic exploration. A total sum of £371,000 is being provided for the nine months to 31st December, 1974 and I am sure Deputies welcome the increased pro rata provision for this service.
The fact that this small country of ours is endowed with scenery which is internationally famous for its remarkable beauty and variety and that we have such a number of great archaeological treasures is no credit to us and is not something we can boast of. The credit which we will be entitled to claim will be for the success of our efforts to protect this wonderful heritage, of which we are but the current caretakers, and to pass it on intact for the enjoyment and inspiration of future generations.
We all agree on the vital and urgent need to protect and preserve our heritage. There is no problem of having to convert people to this view but notwithstanding this our natural and cultural heritage is being damaged or destroyed at a rate unparalleled at any other time of our history.
The problem is one of priorities and resources. This cannot be left to a few well-intentioned people and private organisations who may seek to influence decisions. I believe it can only be done if the State, local authorities and all of our people are anxious enough and care enough to do something about it and give it their full support. In the end whether an historic site is preserved or bulldozed out of existence is primarily a political matter. It is still too often believed that the preservation of our natural and cultural heritage can be considered only if there are some resources left over. A satisfactory cultural climate and the things of beauty in our life are not superfluous luxuries. They are an essential part of our life.
Our ancient monuments are an important part of our heritage, bear witness to our individuality as a nation —more important than ever now when international standardisation is becoming a depressing feature of development—and unlike many other resources they are absolutely irreplaceable. They have been and are a source of pride, education and inspiration to our people, bring economic benefit as, properly preserved and presented, they are a great attraction to visitors and are a very valuable source of information to archaeologists and historians who are trying by research and excavation to piece together the hidden history of man's occupation of this island over a period of almost 7,000 years.
An unusual characteristic of the Irish national heritage considered as a whole is its poverty in pictorial matter of any kind in any medium. Documentation in the form of pictures or sculptures is the most fruitful source of knowledge for the social historian in his search for information about any aspect of the lives of people at any time in the past, for example, houses, dress, ornaments, domestic furnishings and equipment, agricultural implements, trades and occupations, hunting, boats, weapons, religious and ritual festivals, customs, games and pastimes, musical instruments and many other aspects of life. The position in regard to such pictorial records in Ireland could scarcely be worse.
From the whole of the prehistoric period there is virtually nothing which can be identified as the recognisable representation of anything animate or inanimate and this dearth of pictorial records continues through succeeding centuries almost to the 19th.
Ireland lacks wholly or in great part the records which are available to the historian and research worker in other European countries from illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, wall paintings, easel pictures, tapestries, woodcuts and engravings as well as the pictorial matter frequently employed in the decoration of furniture, ceramics, metal work, jewellery and other kinds of objects.
Only one alternative source of information remains for the historian here, the physical records represented by our monuments and the artefacts which are to be found in them following exploration. We must rely on these to an extent unparalleled in other European countries and this gives an added urgency to steps for their preservation. Even the most insignificant-looking monument may on excavation prove to be a fertile site for artefacts and may produce a vital link in our historical documentation.
This year conservation works will be continued at Portumna Castle, Aughnanure Castle and Clontuskert Abbey, County Galway, at King John's Castle, Limerick, at Ferns Castle, County Wexford and at the megalithic tombs at Knowth and Newgrange, County Meath, and on the Casino at Marino, Dublin. A scheme has been started at James Fort, on the opposite side of the bay from Charles Fort at Kinsale, County Cork, where a very large scheme is already in hands. Major works are expected to commence this year at Ross Castle, Killarney, which Mr. John McShain has kindly placed in the guardianship of the commissioners for the purpose.
Smaller schemes are in progress and will continue at, amongst other places, Rathfran Abbey and Turlough Round Tower and Church, both in County Mayo, at Donegal Abbey, at Fenagh Churches in County Leitrim, at Inishmurray Island, County Sligo and at Kilcooly Abbey, County Tipperary. It is also proposed to complete the major scheme at Caher Castle, County Tipperary, by the execution of necessary repairs to the walls of the outer bawn, these having now been kindly placed in the guardianship of the commissioners by the owner, Mrs. Kenny, to whom I wish publicly to convey sincere appreciation and thanks.
Provision is as usual being made for archaeological excavations. Last year excavations were undertaken at 27 sites. Eight excavations were carried out at national monument sites as a preliminary to conservation works. Sixteen excavations were financed by grants on the recommendation of the Royal Irish Academy.
The archaeological survey will continue this year in Counties Westmeath, Longford and Cavan.
Subhead J2 provides for a further grant-in-aid of the same pro rata amount as last year, towards the cost of the restoration of Holycross Abbey, County Tipperary, under the relevant Act. The cost of the restoration work itself is being recouped by the Archdiocese of Cashel, the cost of conservation work to the fabric of the monument only being borne finally by the State. The project is one of the major items selected as Ireland's contribution for European Architectural Heritage Year, 1975, and it is expected to be completed in that year.
I have endeavoured in my statement to touch on the more important, and interesting of the activities of the Office of Public Works. These activities are very varied in character and extend into every county. I expect that Deputies' comments on this Estimate will be as varied and will be up to their usual high standard.