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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Jul 1992

Vol. 422 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Howth House (Dublin).

With the permission of the House I would like to give a minute of my time to Deputy McCartan.

Is that agreed. Agreed.

I am very pleased to have this opportunity of praising the actions of the Office of Public Works in their co-operation with the local community in floodlighting St. Mary's Abbey, Howth. This is an excellent initiative. Just as their care for this ancient abbey over the years must justifiably be praised, what a dreadful pity that the Office of Public Works, with their truly good record of conserving ancient monuments, cannot take Howth House itself into their care. I strongly feel that their brief should be extended to include so-called modern buildings.

By the way, I hope that the officials of the Office of Public Works have not collapsed from the shock of hearing of my very genuine praise for their efforts in some of the areas of their endeavours after my attack on them for certain catastrophic actions appertaining to the location of interpretative centres during the Estimates for their Department.

I would remind the Minister that Howth House stands at the foot of St. Mary's Abbey, Howth, and fits in admirably with this important historic building. Would the Minister ask the Office of Public Works to extend the floodlighting to include Howth House? It is very important that the future of Howth House and its immediate surrounds can be assured. If not, all the good work of the Office of Public Works would be seriously at risk, if not semi-destroyed. It would be absolutely appalling if, for example, a development which would destroy the coastline, a development which would be out of keeping with the wonderful vernacular architecture of Howth were to take place, directly at the base of this wonderful abbey. It would surely be a disaster of Wood Quay proportions and I call on the Office of Public Works to enter the fray to protect this part of our heritage.

The planning application which has been shelved would have materially contravened the zoning in the county development plan which states that this site should be only for housing. Dave Arnold's company, Monastra, obtained planning permission to demolish Howth House but pulled back because they were well aware that there would have been a local revolution——

Deputy Garland, it was indicated to you that, as the Minister does not have responsibility in respect of planning applications, you are not allowed to comment on it.

I made a passing reference to planning permission.

It was a long passing reference.

I am not asking the Minister to comment on planning permission because it is clearly not under his control. Fortunately, this planning did not proceed and shortly after this another development company, Veridian, came on the scene and "saved" Howth House. Who are Veridian? Is it true that, as a result of an agreement with this company, Monastra still own Howth House? Is it true that Dave Arnold is a good old buddy of the Taoiseach? Do contributions to the major party in Government help to oil the wheels of planning decisions? Why did the county manager say that the 1990 decision on Howth House was not a material contravention——

Deputy Garland, I must ask you to desist. You asked a question about floodlighting walls and if you can relate what you are saying to that I will listen to you. However, I am afraid you are floodlighting another matter which is not appropriate to the matter you were allowed to raise.

I appreciate the problem and I am trying to stay within my brief. However, the sites are in the same area and it is very difficult to talk about one without mentioning the other. I will leave out a section of my speech in deference to you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to keep in order.

Your time is nearly up.

I hope the Office of Public Works will include this building in their remit.

I am very much obliged to the Chair for facilitating me and I thank Deputy Garland for giving me time to raise this matter. I also thank the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works for coming to the House to listen to a very earnest and real plea in this regard.

The Office of Public Works have contributed very handsomely to the lighting of the walls and the remains of the 11th century St. Mary's Abbey and the related collegiate. It is regrettable that the work there did not encompass the adjoining — and integral part — of St. Mary's Abbey location, Howth House.

I understand that as a result of recent excavations traces of 14th century habitation have been found beneath the structure of Howth House and clearly illustrates that Howth House and its site is linked to the way in which the surrounds developed under the walls of the abbey and indeed in a way we would expect such ancient and medieval locations to have developed. Consequently, I urge the Minister of State to look at the work and plans which have already been put in place by his Department vis-à-vis the abbey and its collegiate. He should look at the site and the emerging evidence from the excavations which are necessarily involved with regard to the proposed developments of the site at Howth House. There are very important archaeological, historical and aesthetic reasons for the Office of Public Works taking a broader interest and a more active regard of the work they have already done in this area to see that a very important facility and treasure of the Howth seafront is maintained.

St. Mary's Abbey in Howth is a very important urban national monument. Sigtrygg, King of Dublin, founded the first church here in 1042. When the old church was amalgamated with one on Ireland's Eye in 1235, a new church was founded by Luke, Archbishop of Dublin. This church was altered on several occasions, and much of the present structure dates from the 15th and 16th centuries.

On 12 May last I informed the House that the Office of Public Works had not finalised plans for floodlighting the abbey. Since then, an architect from my Office met representatives of the local community and a lighting system has been tested satisfactorily. The policy in relation to floodlighting of suitable sites is that the Office of Public Works pay the capital cost of the installation, and the running costs are met by the local authority. I understand that the community representatives in Howth have undertaken to approach the county council about connecting the system into the town supply and to report to the office on the outcome.

I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to respond to this question. I will review the situation based on what Deputies said and I am also very pleased that Deputy Garland is anxious to ensure that the Office of Public Works continue to acquire properties in the interests of the conservation of our heritage.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 3 July 1992.

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