On the 7th May, 1975, the Dáil passed without debate a Vote of £18,235,000 for Public Works and Buildings. The token Supplementary Estimate of £10 now introduced is to enable the activities of the Office of Public Works to be discussed. When comparing the figure of £18,235,000 with the corresponding figure of £9,951,000 shown in the Book of Estimates for the period from 1st April, 1974, to 31st December, 1974, Deputies should note that the latter figure does not include the amount of the Supplementary Estimate passed by the House on 27th November or the amount recovered from the Vote for Remuneration to cover the cost of pay increases under the 1974 National Pay Agreement. When these amounts are taken into consideration the total expenditure in the nine months from 1st April, 1974, to 31st December, 1974, apart from national schools about which I shall have more to say later, comes to £10.85 million. Total net expenditure for the first three months of 1974, came to £3.65 million giving a total of £14.5 million for the year. The amount being sought for 1975 represents, therefore, an increase of over 25 per cent on 1974 expenditure.
I will now comment on the various subheads that make up the Estimate. Throughout, when I mention expenditure for 1974, I will be including the amount of the Supplementary Estimate and the amount recovered from the Vote for Remuneration.
Subheads A, B and C cover the administrative expenses of the Office of Public Works.
The Estimate for 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 acquired for the National Monuments service and for National Parks and amenity areas.
An important acquisition in the current year is the Kildare Street Club premises which are being bought by the Commissioners to relieve longstanding congestion in the National Library.
In connection with the National Monuments service, the purchase of 57 acres of land at Tara, which had been the subject of court and arbitration proceedings over a long period, has now been concluded. The policy to which I referred last year, of creating national parks in a few areas, is being pursued to the limit dictated by the current financial position. The creation of these parks while providing very attractive recreational facilities for visitors—home and foreign—will ensure that representative samples of our most important ecosystems and scenic areas will be conserved.
Subhead E: The amount being provided here covers the cost of new and improved accommodation for various Government Departments and of improved facilities for the services which they administer, in addition to works in connection with our national parks, waterways and monuments and marine works. A list of the works for which provision is made under this subhead has been supplied to Deputies.
Before I refer to the more significant items included in the subhead I should say that the money which heretofore was provided in the Vote for Public Works and Buildings for the important service of building and improving primary schools will, in future, be borne on the Vote—No. 29—for Primary Education. The actual building work will however, continue to be handled by the Office of Public Works as agents for the Department of Education.
Planning is proceeding for the installation of standby generators to provide emergency lighting for Leinster House and certain areas of the Government Buildings complex in the event of power failure. It is expected that building work, preparatory to the installation of the generators, will commence later this year.
Proposals to provide additional accommodation for the Houses and staff of the Oireachtas—items 2 (2)— are still under consideration. The problem I may say is far from being a simple one.
A total of £2,721,000 is provided for items 4-61 which fall under the heading of the Department of Finance. A wide variety of works is covered. The greater part of the estimate is for the provision of new offices and the fitting out of rented offices for Government staffs in Dublin and the provinces.
The estimate also covers the completion of the printing building for the Ordnance Survey, adaptation of portion of the U.C.D. premises at Earlsfort Terrace for concert hall purposes, the restoration of Scoil Eanna Rathfarnham and the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, the provision of amenities and other development works at national parks, national monuments and inland waterways and marine works at Clare Island and Dún Laoghaire harbour.
The following is some additional information on specific items.
Item 4 is for the fitting out, that is the provision of partitions, furniture, lighting fittings and so on, in rented offices, principally for the Revenue Commissioners, the Central Statistics Office and the Department of Social Welfare.
The Stamping Branch at Dublin Castle is now fully occupied. The new building comprises a modern office block fronting on to the Lower Castle Yard with the Stamping Branch Security Printing works at the rear. Much of the printing equipment was transferred from the former premises and, with the addition of new sophisticated equipment recently purchased, the branch has now one of the best equipped buildings of its kind in Europe.
I mentioned last year that planning for the new Customs Road station at Monaghan was well advanced and that it was expected that the work of erection would commence during the latter part of 1974. Delays were, however, encountered because of foundstion difficulties arising from the increasing weight of vehicles which will be using the site. The problems have now been resolved and tenders have been invited.
Provision is made for adaptation works in the south block of Government Buildings following the transfer of Department of Agriculture staff to the new office building in Kildare Place. Tenders for this work have been sought and it is hoped that the bulk of it will be completed this year.
Last year, I mentioned the general problem of office accommodation for Government staffs in Dublin and the commencement of a programme whereby the State would design and erect its own office buildings. A considerable amount of planning has been done and tendering documents are now being prepared for a number of projects. It is expected that construction work will commence this year on new buildings for the Geological Survey Office and the Meteorological Office. A start will also be made on stage I of new headquarters for the Garda Síochána on a site adjoining the Depot in the Phoenix Park. In addition, a new office building will be commenced at Earlsfort Terrace, and another at Shelbourne Road, part of which will meet urgent needs of the Veterinary College. Plans for the reconstruction of Blocks 8-10 of Dublin Castle are well advanced and it is hoped that tenders will be invited later this year. The historical and architectural importance of this part of the Castle and the archaeological significance of the site will be taken fully into account in the proposed works. The Commissioners are availing themselves of expertise available both inside and outside their own organisation to ensure that a careful reconstruction to the highest standard is carried out. Planning is proceeding for a new Garda Síochána metropolitan area headquarters at the Ship Street side of the Castle.
The erection of a building for the processing and printing of ordance survey maps of various scales is at an advanced stage. When completed, it will enable the Ordnance Survey Office to use the most modern techniques available for the preparation and printing of maps.
Accommodation problems also exist in the provinces and these are now being tackled in a comprehensive way. New offices at Drogheda and Letterkenny have been completed. Erection of a new office building is in progress in Roscommon and early developments are expected on the building of new offices at Mullingar. Planning for new office buildings at Navan, Waterford and Mallow has been put in hands and the needs of other provincial centres are being studied as part of the overall programme.
Additional accommodation is being provided for the State Laboratory staff in part of the former St. Vincent's Hospital premises at Lower Lesson Street.
Pursuant to the Government decision in May, 1974, provision is made to enable planning to proceed on the programme for the conversion of the Great Hall and ancillary areas at University College, Earlsfort Terrace, for use as a concert hall.
Provision is made for the continuing of the planning of stage II of the restoration of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.
This is the only large building of the late 17th century in the country which survives complete and intact. Its restoration will be a large-scale operation which must be handled very carefully because of its unique historical and architectural importance.
Consultants have prepared preliminary proposals. These are being studied and it is hoped to proceed shortly with the more detailed work which will be needed to enable tenders to be invited.
It is proposed to make a start this year on the internal rehabilitation of Scoil Éanna. The preparation of the detailed specification necessary to enable tenders to be sought proved to be a time-consuming task. I am afraid that the execution of the work itself will also prove tedious and painstaking with scope for the employment of only a limited number of highly skilled operatives. The work will, in the event, have to be phased over the next few years.
Items 32-39 accounting for a total estimate of £150,000, cover developments at our national parks both for the benefit of visitors and for better park administration.
A sum of £30,000 is being allocated this year for improved sanitary services at Muckross House, Killarney. The work will be carried out in two stages. The first stage, on which work is expected to commence in the next four months or so, will comprise the provision of a new water supply including the construction of a covered reservoir and provision of fire-fighting apparatus. The present water supply is unsatisfactory and there are no facilities for dealing with a serious outbreak of fire in the premises. The destruction of Powerscourt House and other such fine buildings in recent times will have brought home to us once again the necessity for adequate fire precautions in the case of isolated buildings of this nature.
The second stage of the improvement will, I hope, be commenced next year. This will consist of a new treatment works for the sewage from Muckross House which at present has to discharge untreated into Muckross Lake. The present disposal system was designed to suit the use of the house as a private residence and is now totally unacceptable having regard to the number of people who visit the house annually. As the house will in future function as a combined park visitor centre and folk museum, the number of visitors can be expected to rise steadily, making the installation of a satisfactory sewerage system a matter of urgent necessity from both amenity and environmental points of view. The type of plant to be installed will be what is known as a "tertiary" treatment plant, that is, one adequate to deal effectively with the problem of nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates which, we are advised, lead to serious pollution in inland waters.
The improvement scheme is being planned in consultation with, and with the co-operation of the Killarney Urban District Council.
Items 34 to 36 provide for other improvements at the Bourn Vincent Memorial Park. I spoke last year on the provision of public toilets and the construction of a new jaunting car road. Work on these projects is continuing satisfactorily. The new toilets at Torc should be completed this year.
Good progress has been maintained on the work of restoring the picture gallery wing of Kilkenny Castle.
Serious defects, mainly caused by dry rot infestation, came to light during the contract involving considerable additional work and expense. I am hopeful that this part of the castle will be opened to the public later in the year. This will surely be good news for the many visitors to Kilkenny who are disappointed at not being able to gain admittance to the castle. Consideration will then be given to the restoration of a further section of the castle.
When introducing last year's Estimate, I informed the House that our proposals for a public golf course at Islandbridge in the Phoenix Park extension had run into difficulties because of road improvements planned for this area. Since then further discussions have taken place with Dublin Corporation and, in the light of these discussions, our overall scheme for the development of these lands needs to be re-examined.
I mentioned last year that my office had joined with Bord Fáilte in commissioning a comprehensive study of the River Shannon to assess its potential for recreational and tourist development purposes. From preliminary reports received, the indications are that this study will prove invaluable in planning the long-term development and use of the waterway and adjoining areas. Development works planned for the coming year include major works at Hudsons Bay, Mountshannon and Rossmore.
It is also hoped to commence work on a new harbour at Portumna to provide easier and better access from the river to the town, the nearby national monuments, and the forest park which is being developed by the Forest and Wildlife Service of the Department of Lands. I might mention here that, to the extent to which it is possible for them, the local authority are co-operating fully in this project.
Provision is made again for some new works at certain national monuments; some of these are nearing completion, others are at the planning stage only.
I am glad to say that the visitors' centre at Dunmore cave, County Kilkenny, is due to be completed very soon. Considerable works, including the installation of electric light, have also been carried out within the cave to make it more readily accessible for visitors.
An unusual project jointly sponsored by Bord Fáilte and the Office of Public Works is planned for Cahir Castle, County Tipperary as a contribution to European Architectural Heritage Year 1975. It is proposed to provide at Cahir Castle an exhibition centre devoted to the cultural and physical heritage of our people, with special emphasis, especially during European Architectural Year, on its architectural and archaeological aspects. Heating and lighting will be installed and static displays and film and slide shows with modern equipment will be provided. The aim is to give visitors, both Irish and foreign, a better understanding and deeper appreciation of the wealth there is in our heritage. Cahir Castle is one of our more impressive monuments and, as it is strategically situated in a tourist area and on a main tourist route, it is eminently suited for the use proposed. Further, the project is fully in accord with one of the main aims of European Architectural Heritage Year, that is, finding an appropriate use for ancient buildings.
The Visitors centre at the Rock of Cashel is also expected to be completed this year. This is another of the Office of Public Works projects for European Architectural Heritage Year, 1975.
Items 54-57 are for the provision of improved accommodation for depots for the servicing of national monuments in some districts.
Yet another project planned for European Architectural Heritage Year 1975 is the restoration of the Casino at Marino. This building was erected by the first Earl of Charlemont in the 18th century to serve as a sort of summerhouse in the grounds of his out-of-town residence, Marino House—the area now called Marino being, at that time, in the country outside Dublin.
It was designed by Sir William Chambers and is regarded as possibly the greatest gem of eighteenth century architecture in these islands.
The structure has up to this been reasonably well preserved but the interior in particular is now in need of major works, including the provision of caretaker's quarters and the installation of heating and lighting.
Item 59 is for the continuation of a scheme to improve landing facilities at Clare Island, County Mayo in the interests of transport and communication. The improvements involve widening the pier, raising the level of its deck, providing a sloping quay, a crane, a winch and a boat cradle. The scheme has unfortunately suffered delay because of a contractual dispute, but arrangements are being made to enable the work to proceed this year.
Item 60 is for the removal of a part of the structure which was erected in 1965 at the East Pier, Dun Laoghaire, to serve as a temporary car ferry terminal pending construction of the permanent terminal at St. Michael's Wharf. The removal will be done in the course of the alterations to the mail boat pier covered by the next item.
British Rail propose to operate their services at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, with ships having accommodation for passengers with or without cars. This requires the erection of a ramp at the mail boat pier to unload the cars and the construction of a causeway connecting this pier with the car ferry terminal at St. Michael's Wharf. These works are now well advanced.
Planning for stage II of the building to provide office accommodation for staff associated with the computer division of the Department of the Public Service is progressing rapidly and it is hoped to commence construction before the end of the year.
Planning for the new Training Centre for the Institute of Public Administration and for the Department of the Public Service has reached an advanced stage.
Apart from the sums included under item 17 for Garda Headquarters and Garda Metropolitan Area Headquarters, £808,000 is provided for works for the Department of Justice. The main allocation is for the erection of new Garda stations, the improvement of existing stations and the provision of improved facilities for the gardaí generally. Provision is also made for improved accommodation for the Film Censor's Office and for the erection of new courts in Dublin.
Improvement works at the Garda Technical Bureau, and the provision of improved accommodation for the Commissioner's staff, are completed, except for some minor items which are being attended to.
Improved accommodation is needed for the Garda Band. A contract will be placed shortly and it is expected that the work will be completed this year.
It is proposed to extend the transport garage in the Garda Depot in order to cater for the increasing volume of transport.
The programme for the erection of new Garda stations and the improvement of existing stations has been speeded up considerably and I have every hope that it will be possible to accelerate the pace further over the next few years.
Work is progressing at 22 centres and contracts have been placed recently at five others. Planning is well advanced at a further 20 centres and is proceeding in all cases where sites have been acquired and future requirements have been determined.
Work on the new divisional headquarters in Limerick city is well under way and considerable progress is expected this year. The building, which is on the site of the former St. Munchin's College, will accommodate over 120 personnel. Work is also proceeding on a new district headquarters and two houses at Ballyshannon. Planning for a new divisional headquarters at Monaghan on the site of the existing obsolete station is well advanced. This is a spacious site and the Garda personnel will continue to occupy the existing station while the erection of the new station is in progress. All the new stations are being designed to provide full and adequate facilities for Garda personnel and for the public and to provide the gardaí with modern standards of accommodation.
The erection of temporary court accommodation has been held up by reason of site difficulties. It is hoped that these difficulties will be resolved this year.
The planning of new permanent court building is a complex task but it is expected that definite progress will be made on it in the next year.
Work is in progress on the erection of new office buildings to house some sections of the Department of Education at Athlone. The work is expected to be completed in 1976.
A scheme is being designed to rewire the National Museum buildings so as to provide improved lighting. It is intended to put the work in hand this year.
The new office buildings at Castlebar are making satisfactory progress. The buildings are shaping up nicely and on completion, which is expected to be towards the end of this year, they will be a pleasant feature of the area.
Planning is proceeding for a new building at Furbo, County Galway, for the Department of the Gaeltacht. It is expected that tenders will be invited inside a few months and that work will be commenced in the latter half of this year.
We now come to works for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for which a total of £615,000 has been provided.
The items include alterations and additions to buildings at various agricultural centres, new accommodation for the scientific and research staff of the Fisheries Division at Abbotstown, research facilities at Thorndale, new offices at Carlow and Raphoe for the district veterinary staff, a cattle quarantine station at a location to be decided, the completion of the fitting out of the new office block at Kildare Place and the extension of the fishery research station at Dunmore East.
The following is some additional information on particular items.
Preliminary planning has begun for the provision of improved accommodation at the Botanic Gardens. The buildings, which will include a new herbarium, will provide better research facilities for students and as well an amenity of an educational nature for the general public.
Item 85 represents the final payment for the erection in Limerick of the last of a group of regional veterinary research and dairy produce laboratories. Laboratories at Athlone, Cork, Kilkenny and Sligo were provided in previous years.
Planning is proceeding for the erection at Abbotstown of accommodation including laboratories and office space for the scientific and research staff of the Fisheries Division.
Planning is also proceeding for the erection at Thorndale of a new building to house the butter and seed testing stations as the present accommodation and facilities are unsatisfactory and inadequate.
Improvements to existing research facilities at Thorndale are also in train.
A new office building for the district veterinary staff has been completed at Carlow and planning is in progress for a new one at Raphoe.
The improvement of the sewage disposal arrangements and of the water supply at Ballyhaise College, County Cavan is planned. The erection of improved accommodation for the college is also being investigated.
The fitting out of the new headquarters for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Kildare Street is virtually completed and the Department has already been able to house practically all its staff under the one roof.
An enlargement of the fishery research station at Dunmore East fishery harbour centre is required to cater for the expected expansion of the station's activities.
A new training school and synoptic reporting station for the meteorological service of the Department of Transport and Power is to be built at Galway.
A sum of £378,000 is required for works for the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. A new post office at Dungarvan has been completed while new post offices at Listowel and Donegal are in course of erection as are extensions to Phibsboro and Letterkenny post offices. Planning for new post offices at Clonmel, Longford, Mullingar and Tipperary is well advanced and modernisation schemes are planned for the post offices at Ballyhaunis, Cobh, Enniscorthy, Limerick and Thurles. The erection of a new sorting office at Baldoyle is in progress and new sorting offices at Fairview, Dublin and Glasheen, Cork are under consideration. A computer centre at Dundrum, County Dublin has been completed and a new philatelic sales office in the GPO Arcade is nearing completion. The installation of a ventilation system in the central sorting office and of a sprinkler system at St. John's Road depot are progressing.
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 £1,600,000 which will be met from the telephone capital account.
The sum of £395,000 provided for works for the Department of Foreign Affairs covers expenditure in connection with the provision of conference facilities in Dublin for meetings of the Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers of the EEC and so forth, the fitting out of Embassy buildings abroad and improvements to existing Embassy premises. Work on the fitting out of offices and of the ambassadors' residential accommodation at Tokyo and Luxembourg is complete. Work on and furnishing of the staff's accommodation and the combined chancery and residence at Moscow are nearing completion and this year the fitting out of office premises at Vienna and Beirut is being undertaken.
The work in connection with the accommodation for the EEC meetings in Dublin this year comprised provision of conference furniture and translation facilities at Iveagh House and at the State Apartments, Dublin Castle and the adaptation of and fitting out in the Castle area of ancillary office and press accommodation and the provision of the requisite facilities and services.
It was found possible with very careful planning to meet in the State Apartments the EEC requirements in a very satisfactory manner, while at the same time ensuring the availability of the apartments for other Government functions. I have been very gratified by the expressions of appreciation by the visiting statesmen and others of the arrangements for the meeting of the heads of government in March. I acknowledge with thanks the many messages of congratulation received which were much appreciated by the Commissioners of Public Works and their staffs. I also convey my sincere thanks to those in the public and private sector who were involved with them in the arrangements for the meeting.
The amount provided under subhead F1 is £3,465,000, about two-thirds of which is required for normal day-to-day maintenance of Government offices, post office buildings, Garda Síochána stations, employment exchanges, social welfare offices and agricultural institutions. The rest is for maintenance of this country's diplomatic missions abroad (about £115,000), of the three State harbours at Dún Laoghaire, Howth and Dunmore East (about £300,000), of the various national parks (about £640,000) and the River Shannon Navigation (about £150,000).
The latter figure includes one item which I would like to mention. In response to representations from local and tourist interests it is proposed to restore navigation on the old Lough Allen Canal between the Shannon and Acres Lough near Drumshanbo. The work has commenced and it is expected to be completed in two to three years.
Subhead F2 provides for the supply of replacement furniture and of additional items required for existing State buildings.
Subhead F3, which provides for rents, shows an increased rate of expenditure over that of the previous period arising out of the leasing of new premises to accommodate additional staffs as well as to replace old premises which had become unsuitable or inadequate and for our diplomatic missions abroad.
Subhead F4 bears the cost of fuel and light for government offices. Increases in the cost of these commodities during the past year together with the demand for higher standards in new and existing accommodation, account for the substantial increase in the provision needed under this subhead.
Again the greater part of subhead F5 will be expended on the former British Embassy premises at Merrion Square which have been acquired by the Electricity Supply Board. The work, which is being carried out by the Electricity Supply Board on behalf of the Office of Public Works, is now virtually completed. A smaller part of the provision is required for repairs to the French Government property at Kildare Street which was damaged by the explosion at South Leinster Street in May, 1974.
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 certain hydrometric studies and of comprehensive drainage surveys which are a necessary preliminary of arterial drainage schemes. For this £70,000 is provided which represents an increase of over 20 per cent on the expenditure on this subhead in 1974. As in the case of previous years, most of the provision of £70,000 for 1975 is needed to continue hydrometric investigations. The amount included in this subhead for catchment surveys is £2,000. In this connection I might point out that the bulk of the provision for such surveys is included in subheads A and B.
Last year reference was made in the context of subhead G1 to the cost/ benefit analysis. The prototype study undertaken in respect of proposals for the Maigue catchment has been completed and has indicated a very favourable overall benefit/cost ratio in the case of the exhibited scheme which, in fact, is now in progress. The further study, of proposals for the Corrib/ Mask/Robe area, is well advanced and will, all going well, be completed this summer.
As Deputies will be aware, it is intended that all future proposed drainage schemes will be subjected at the appropriate stage of their development to cost/benefit analysis to determine their value as capital investments. Each study will of course be valid only for the scheme under investigation. The initial findings tend to favour arterial drainage but there may be cases of schemes which will be found not to be worthwhile.
Subhead G2 provides for expenditure on drainage works in progress. A sum of £1,720,000 has been provided this year, an increase of over 25 per cent on expenditure in 1974. This sum provides for the continuation of works on the Boyne scheme and also for the expansion of the programme of works on the Maigue scheme.
Subhead G3 provides for the maintenance of completed schemes and embankment works. A sum of £880,000 has been provided for 1975, an increase of almost 20 per cent on last year's expenditure. The increase in expenditure under this heading reflects increases in wages and other costs. The cost of the work is recoverable from the county councils and is brought to credit as an appropriation-in-aid.
Subhead H covers the purchase and maintenance of engineering plant and machinery, the purchase of stores, and the payment of wages to the workshop staffs. The provision covers not only increases since April, 1974, in wage rates and material costs, but also a larger volume of purchases of plant and machinery, mainly for arterial drainage.
Subhead I bears the cost of the construction and maintenance of coast protection works. The maintenance costs are repaid by the county councils involved, and the repayments are taken in as appropriations-in-aid.
Six schemes are at present being maintained. The subhead provides for an outlay of £33,000 on this service. The balance of the provision is required for prospective outlay on a new scheme at Enniscrone, County Sligo, which the county council have currently on exhibition, and also for the contingency of expenditure on proposals, of which preliminary examination has been made, for works at Ballyvoile, County Waterford and the Maharees, County Kerry.
Subhead J1 is the subhead under which provision is made for the preservation and presentation of national monuments in State care, for archaeological excavations and for some of the expenses of the archaeological survey. The purpose of the survey is to record all the monuments in the country and its importance cannot be over-emphasised. It will continue in counties Cavan, Longford and Westmeath this year. As I pointed out last year archaeological monuments are, in Ireland, virtually the sole source of information of past ages for the social historian. Once destroyed they cannot be replaced. Last year excavations financed from this subhead were undertaken at 22 sites.
Conservation of monuments in the care of the Commissioners is also a continuing process. Last year works were completed at, inter alia, Rathfran Abbey and Turlough Round Tower and Church, in County Mayo; at Fenagh Churches in County Leitrim, at Aughanure Castle and Clontuskert Abbey, in County Galway. This year conservation works will be continued at Portumna Castle, County Galway, Kells Priory, County Kilkenny, Charles Fort, Cork, Trim Castle, County Meath, Inishmurray, County Sligo, Kilcooly Abbey, County Tipperary, Ross Castle, Killarney and Donegal Abbey, among others. Work will also continue at Newgrange Tumulus and Knowth Tumulus, County Meath.
I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to express my appreciation to the National Monuments Advisory Council and the Royal Irish Academy for their advice and assistance in the administration of this service. While opinions sometimes differ on details, our objectives are overall the same, that is, to select the right priorities from an extensive range of options and to ensure that the available resources are used to the best advantage.
Subhead J2 is the special subhead out of which the grant-in-aid towards the initial cost of the restoration of Holycross Abbey, County Tipperary, is provided. The project is one of Ireland's two national projects for European Architectural Heritage Year and is due for completion this year. The cost of the actual restoration work is being refunded by the diocesan authorities, the cost of preservation of the fabric of the monuments only being a final charge on State funds.
Including works the cost of which is not being met from this Vote, namely, schools, telephone exchanges, prison buildings and the construction and improvement of harbour works for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Roinn na Gaeltachta, the total gross expenditure for which the Office of Public Works will be responsible this year will exceed £35,000,000. This expenditure of course, has a very large employment content and it is I may say a proof of the Government's intent to do all they can to promote employment.
I have dealt in my statement with some of the more interesting of the varied and far-reaching activities of the Office of Public Works. I now look forward to the Deputies' comments and, in my reply, I will do my best to deal with any queries they may have.
