Two capital projects have resulted from the enactment of the legislation to establish a national historic park on An Blascaod Mór. A visitor centre will be constructed on the mainland to interpret the heritage of the island and the landing facilities of the island itself will be improved. Acquisition of land for the visitor centre was handled by valuers from the Office of Public Works. Tenders have not yet been invited for the construction works but when they are normal Government contract procedures will apply.
Interpretative and visitor reception centres are being planned for the Ceide Fields, Ballycastle, County Mayo, which is a unique neolithic archaeological site, and for the Corlea Bog, Keenagh, County Longford where portion of a major timber trackway recently exposed and dating from the early Iron Age will be exhibited and preserved. Tenders will be sought for these projects in accordance with standard procedures.
The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, was recently the subject of a refurbishment project to create a new Museum of Modern Art. This work was put out to tender on the open market.
The former College of Science in Merrion Street was refurbished to provide accommodation for the Taoiseach and his Department. The opportunity of the relocation of the School of Engineering was used to provide much needed additional accommodation for the Oireachtas and the Department of the Taoiseach and to rationalise the space held by the Department of Finance.
The relevant procedures are set out fully in An Outline of Government Contract Procedures, a copy of which I can make available to the Deputy.
