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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 1

Written Answers. - State Properties.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

189 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on whether a full survey of all State buildings for the presence of asbestos products has been carried out; if all asbestos has been removed from State buildings to date; if not, the amount which has been removed; if State employees are still working in an environment with exposed asbestos; if he will report on the number of asbestos related claims which have been filed against the State; the number which have been settled; and the cost, including legal fees. [21183/02]

Charlie McCreevy

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

It is estimated that there are nearly 6,000 buildings in State care, including Government offices, Garda stations, schools, heritage buildings and military establishments. Many of these are post-1980 structures and so are unlikely to contain asbestos as the use of the material has for the most part been banned since then. To date approximately 2,500 of these buildings have been surveyed to determine the location, type, form and condition of any asbestos material present. The early stages of the survey programme were concentrated in areas where, from local knowledge, asbestos was known or suspected to exist.

Works identified as necessary to tackle the problem are carried out on a priority basis and have been completed, are in hands or are being commissioned in almost all cases where the material has been located. The programme will continue until the State's complete portfolio of buildings has been examined.

While there are a large number of buildings which have yet to be treated under the asbestos programme, I am not aware of any instances where employees are working in conditions where they are exposed to respirable asbestos fibres. The Office of Public Works is continuing to monitor the position and to deal with problem incidents if and when they arise.
A total of 471 asbestos-related claims have been filed against the State. To date eleven claims have been settled at a total cost of €1,020,000.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

190 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance the delegations and individuals who have resided, held functions in, or had functions held for them in Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, since its restoration. [21162/02]

Charlie McCreevy

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

Meetings, functions and residential events at Farmleigh House from 28 July, 2001 to 8 November 2002.

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs – two nights stay

Function:

Official visit by Prime Minister of China Mr. Zhu Ronghji (26 in delegation)

Host Department:

Office of the Government Chief Whip

Function:

Meeting of the Dáil Reform Committee (10 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs – two nights stay

Function:

State visit by the President of the Republic of Lithuania H.E. Valdas Adamkus (18 in delegation)

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Latvian Real Estate Agency. Meeting and Lunch (10 in attendance)

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Dinner Dublin Zoo (100 in attendance).

Host:

British Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body – one night stay

Function:

Meeting of the British – Irish Inter Parliamentary Body (19 in attendance).

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Meeting – Minister for the Environment and Local Government and Office of Public Works (23 in attendance)

Host Department:

Houses of the Oireachtas – An Ceann Comhairle – two nights stay

Function:

Mr. Halldor Blondal, M.P. President of the Altingi (Icelandic Parliamentary Delegation) (seven in delegation)

Host Department:

OPW

Function

Meeting with Chairman (29 in attendance)

Host Department:

Houses of the Oireachtas – An Ceann Comhairle

Function:

Visit by Mr. Jozef Migas, M.P., Chairman of the Slovak Parliament

Host Department

Department of Foreign Affairs

Function:

North South Ministerial Council Meeting – Education sector

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

Meeting (18 in attendance)

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Meeting (15 in attendance)

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Meeting with the Mexican Ambassador (four in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Public Enterprise

Function:

Two-day workshop event (digital divide) 28 in attendance

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

Meeting (nine in attendance)

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Dinner for Ministers of State (seven in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

Political correspondents' dinner (39 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

Cabinet dinner (30 in attendance)

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Meeting and lunch (21 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of the Environment and Local Government

Function:

Task force seminar and lunch (37 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Finance – one night stay

Function:

Visit of the German Federal Minister Eichel (nine in delegation)

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Meeting and dinner – Accounts branch (60 in attendance).

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

Department of the Taoiseach workshop (nine in attendance)

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Meeting and lunch (28 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

National implementation body (26 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Function:

Signing of a readmission agreement and crime agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria. (15 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs – one night stay

Function:

Visit of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Senawi (21 in delegation)

Host Department:

Houses of the Oireachtas – An Ceann Comhairle

Function:

Dinner – Visit by Parliamentary delegation from Slovenia (17 in attendance)

Host Department:

Office of the Tanaiste

Function:

Dinner for the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, Dr. Goran Granic (30 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

Dinner (13 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs – two nights stay

Function:

State Visit to Ireland by Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (20 in delegation)

Host Department:

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Function:

Signing of the Crime Agreement between Government of Ireland and Government of Cyprus (12 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of the Environment and Local Government

Function:

North South Ministerial sector meeting (40 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

Meeting (six in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs

Function:

The European Air Chiefs conference dinner (50 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

National Implementation Body dinner

Host Department:

Department of Education and Science

Function:

Launch of the Irish Academy of Performing Arts (50 in attendance)

Host Department:

Tanaiste's Office

Function:

Council of Notre Dame

Host Department:

Attorney General's Office

Function:

International Conference of all E.U. Attorneys General (40 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs – three nights

Function:

Latvian State visit – President of the Republic of Latvia (delegation of 29)

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs

Function:

North South Ministerial meeting

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs – one night stay

Function:

State Visit by President of Slovenia (six in delegation)

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

The Ireland Fund dinner (76 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs – one night stay

Function:

State Visit Nigerian Delegation (HE Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (42 in delegation)

Host Department:

Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

Function:

Meeting and lunch – Common Fisheries Policy meeting (21 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Transport

Function:

Breakfast meeting and lunch (14 in attendance)

Host Department:

Houses of the Oireachtas – An Ceann Comhairle

Function:

Dinner for Congressional delegation from US – 60 in attendance

Host Department:

OPW

Function:

Lunch Meeting – Office of Public Works and US General Services Administration (17 in attendance)

Host Department:

Department of Health and Children

Function:

Meeting and lunch (meeting of Irish and UK healthcare managers) 40 in attendance

Host Department:

Department of Agriculture and Food

Function:

Lunch – Meeting with French Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and Rural Affairs (22)

Host Department:

Department of Foreign Affairs

Function:

EU seminar (60 delegates)

Host Department:

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Function:

Conference and dinner – 25 delegates

Host Department:

Department of Transport

Function:

Meeting (15 delegates)

Host Department:

Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

Function:

Meeting (44 delegates)

Host Department:

Courts Service

Function:

Two-day conference – 40 each day

Host Department:

Department of the Taoiseach

Function:

Meeting – 15 in attendance
Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

191 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance if there are plans to upgrade the environs of Military Road. [21166/02]

Charlie McCreevy

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The site and its environs are currently being assessed as part of a process of evaluating State-owned properties which are currently surplus to requirements. The objective of the exercise is to maximise benefit to the State and one option being considered is to develop the site and its environs with due regard to the historical and cultural significance of the general area.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

192 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the Military Road should reflect the importance of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, as an historical and cultural institution; his further views on the semi-derelict condition of state-owned buildings on the road; and the action he will take to remedy the situation. [21167/02]

Charlie McCreevy

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The former Garda building and site on Military Road is currently being assessed as part of an ongoing exercise in evaluating surplus State property with a view to maximising benefit to the State.

Developing this site is one option under consideration. Any such development would be in keeping with the historical and cultural significance of the general area, given the proximity of the Museum of Modern Art and the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

The State-owned buildings on the site are currently unoccupied. Regardless of the future use of these buildings, they must be maintained because they are protected structures. An assessment of the buildings is currently under way and the appropriate works will be carried out when that assessment is complete. The buildings are under constant Garda security protection.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

193 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance his plans to realise the full potential of the Garda buildings on Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8. [21168/02]

Charlie McCreevy

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The Commissioners of Public Works are in the process of evaluating properties in the State portfolio which are currently deemed surplus to requirements. The purpose of this exercise is to decide how best to realise the potential of these properties in order to maximise benefit to the State. The Military Road site will be considered as part of this evaluation process.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

194 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider an alternative use of the semi-derelict Garda building on Military Road which would enhance the Museum of Modern Art as an historical and cultural institution. [21169/02]

Charlie McCreevy

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The former Garda building and site on Military Road is currently being assessed as part of an ongoing exercise in evaluating surplus State property with a view to maximising benefit to the State.

Developing this site is one option under consideration. Any such development would be in keeping with the historical and cultural significance of the general area, given the proximity of the Museum of Modern Art and the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

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