A major plan to revamp Leinster House has been shelved because of the cash crisis, it emerged today.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) revealed the crumbling corridors of power will have to hold out a little longer until the public coffers are back in a good state.
The parliament was to be shifted out of one of the country’s most historic buildings as part of a huge conservation project. But only essential works will now be carried out, with the rest on hold for as long as two years, because of the financial situation.
John McMahon, who is overseeing the project for the OPW, said plans to evacuate the entire second floor because of fire safety fears will go ahead within weeks.
OPW experts argued that weakened floors, decaying windows and damaged plasterwork at the home of the Government made a complete makeover essential.
“The building is under stress because it has come to the end of its useful life in some ways,” Mr McMahon said.
But officials remained coy when pressed to put a price on restoring the Kildare Street mansion to its former grandeur. “We have no estimates as to how much it will cost,” said Mr McMahon. “It will be millions but there’s no point putting out a glib, knee-jerk figure that is totally inaccurate.”
Most of the occupants of the second floor have already moved out, with the remaining users expected to leave for temporary offices in the next two months.
It is currently home to a Garda office, the RTÉ Dáil studio, political correspondents and the Bills Office.
Mr McMahon said it was unlikely these groups would return to their old home once renovation work is completed. Political correspondents were angered by the revelation, however, claiming they had been assured such a move was temporary.
PA