COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

QUESTION NO.21

QUESTION: Councillor E. Murphy

"Can the Chief Executive please provide an update of remedial works that have taken place in the past year at Rathfarnham Castle Park?  Furthermore can the Council please outline what works are currently planned and the timescales of such works also?

REPLY:

"South Dublin County Council is extremely conscious of the tourism, amenity and heritage appeal of Rathfarnham Castle, its associated outbuildings and adjacent lands. Works to remove heavy vegetation and ground cover were carried out in 2017 within the perimeter walls of the outbuildings/stables to enable detailed survey work to be carried out on existing historical structures. Since the last report to the local area committee in October 2017, the council has progressed these surveys. Detail design and specification of stabilising and remedial works were carried out by consultant and in-house design team and the works tendered. These works include repairs to stonewalls, openings, stabilisation works to structures and temporary roofing s to encourage drying out of older structures. The project was tendered successfully and competitive tenders obtained. The council is currently in the process of appointing a contractor and it is anticipated that the contractor will start works in early March. These stabilising/remedial works could last up to six months.

As outlined to the Area Committee previously, Shaffrey Associates, architectural conservation consultants, have prepared a draft strategy for the regeneration of the Castle outbuildings. This is an overall approach as to which elements of the site might be restored, refurbished and how newer structures might be inserted. This is a guide to the overall approach and not a proposal or detailed design per se. As also discussed and agreed with Area Committee members and in line with this approach, the Council will seek Expressions of Interest from suitable companies or consortia with a good track record of successfully completing developments of this nature in sensitive heritage environments. A Competitive–Dialogue process will examine use options, building design and cost/finance in Quarters 3 and 4 2018 before a Joint-Venture partnership is finally tendered."