Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - Leinster House Development.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

261 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the plan for the remainder of the construction, fitting out and related commissioning work, including telecommunications, that need to be carried out to Leinster House and Leinster House 2000; the detail of the schedule of work that is in place; when it is expected that all work will be completed; when builders, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other craftspersons will have left the site; the communications procedures which have been put in place in order to ensure that there are no recurrences of the failure of the computer system as occurred on 19 April 2001 due to work by electricians, and the failure of the telephone system as occurred on 18 and 19 April 2001 due to work by telecommunications companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11750/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Cullen)

Some limited construction work is currently being undertaken in the basement of Leinster House to provide accommodation for the Oireachtas Librarian and this is scheduled for completion by the end of June 2001. There is also some minor work to be carried out in the plantroom of Leinster House 2000 this summer. All other major construction work in Leinster House 2000 is now completed. However, it can be expected that, from time to time, small jobs to meet the requirements of Members and staff will be sought and these will be attended to whenever reasonable access is allowed to Office of Public Works staff and contractors. Every effort is made on these occasions to keep disruption to the House to an absolute minimum.

The telecommunications and computer system problems which occurred on 19 April 2001 happened during work to change the electrical supply to the computer network system to facilitate the installation of an uninterruptible power supply to improve overall reliability. Regrettably, due to a change in the contractor's personnel, the electrical supply was disconnected without consultation with Office of Public Works or with staff and Members. The Commissioners of Public Works are satisfied that, apart from this incident, procedures are sufficiently tight to prevent a recurrence. The telephone system in Leinster House is a matter for Oireachtas officials.