Vol. 397 No. 9
112 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has to carry out the necessary reconstruction work on the national monument St. Laurence's Gate, Drogheda, County Louth; the reason for the delay in implementing this work; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is one of the outstanding national monuments in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
St. Laurence's Gate, Drogheda, which is owned by the Corporation of Drogheda, was placed in the guardianship of the Commissioners of Public Works in 1965.
I am fully aware that this is indeed a very important monument being a barbican of one of the town gates in Drogheda, and regarded as the finest of its kind in the country.
Substantial repair works have been carried out to it by the commissioners since it came under their guardianship and, of course, any maintenance works required in the future to protect the national monument will also be carried out by them. The commissioners see no need at present to undertake any major works at the site arising from their responsibilities as guardians.
