No cash for work on courthouse railings

CHIEF executive officer of the council Coilín O’Reilly informed members at the local authority’s recent meeting that the Courts Service and the Office of Public Works have no financial resources to finish works on the court house railings.

Mr O’Reilly said that both he and cathaoirleach Fergal Browne met officials from both agencies during the summer and were informed that it will cost €2.5 million to complete the works.

Councillors were told that the “best which could be hoped for” is that six to seven bays of the railings would be refurbished each year for five or six years.

Mr O’Reilly added: “The big issue is funding. It is not the responsibility of Carlow County Council. One of the last meetings we had was that it was agreed that we would go off and see if we could source funding.

“The Courts Service was trying to get additional funding in the budget. The total allocation for the upkeep of their 184 buildings is €12m on an annual basis.

“A lot of those buildings are historic so there’s a huge draw on resources. I did talk to the Department of Housing and the Heritage element to see if there is additional funding there and I am awaiting a response on that.

“Nobody seems to be able to source the funding as we speak.” The Cathaoirleach added: “I think we will have to issue proceedings against the Courts Service because at this stage they are acting the maggot. These are extremely significant railings, they are more significant than those along St Stephen’s Green and Leinster House. It’s an embarrassment and it’s gone on too long. It’s a landmark building on our doorstep. They are responsible.” Ends