asked the Minister for Finance if Kilmainham hospital had been renovated for use as an EEC conference centre in Ireland and when it will be brought into use.
155.
Written Answers. - Kilmainham (Dublin) Royal Hospital.
154.
asked the Minister for Finance in respect of Kilmainham hospital (1) the amount spent on maintenance and improvements since January 1973; (2) if restoration work is now completed; (3) the estimated annual cost of maintenance; (4) the use that is to be made of the building in the future and (5) if he will give a description of the accommodation available.
156.
asked the Minister for Finance the cost of the restoration of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin.
157.
asked the Minister for Finance when and by whom the decision was made to utilise the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin, as a centre for EEC conferences.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 to 157, inclusive, together.
The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, was not specifically restored for use as a conference centre. The Government approved in principle proposals for the provision at the Royal Hospital of conference facilities suitable for EEC and other international requirements, in August 1978. The proposals involved (1) the restoration of the Royal Hospital and (2) the provision of a new conference building in the hospital grounds. Proposals for (2) were deferred in 1981 due to the costs involved.
Final accounts for the restoration works are not yet available but it is estimated that the final cost will be in the region of £20 million. The Government announced their decision on the future use of the premises on 26 November 1984. Details were given by the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach in reply to a question answered on 27 November 1984. The uses decided upon followed consideration of the matter by a special inter-departmental committee set up for that purpose under his chairmanship.
Arrangements are being made to put the decisions into effect. It is not possible at this stage to give an exact date by which the necessary preparatory works and other arrangements will be complete. Some use has already been made of the north wing for conference purposes.
With regard to the specific points raised in Question No. 155 the position is as follows:
1. The cost of routine maintenance to the premises from January 1973 to July 1980, when the contract for the restoration scheme was placed, amounted to £13,500 approximately.
2. The restoration work to the main hospital building has been completed.
3. The estimated annual cost of maintenance of the building in use, would be about £100,000 including heating, lighting and cleaning.
4. With regard to the use of the premises, I have stated the position already in this reply.
5. The building, consisting of approximately 90,000 sq. ft. is quadrangular in shape, enclosing a spacious courtyard. The north wing is the most impressive one and contains the Chapel, Great Hall and Master's Quarters, with dining and kitchen facilities in the basement. The remaining three wings are three stories in height and contain 73 rooms, with wide corridors on both the first and second floor levels. Modern services, such as, heating, lighting, lifts, fire alarm and toilet facilities have been incorporated in the building.