The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the conservation and maintenance of the Houses of the Oireachtas and Government Buildings.
In February 2023, as part of the planned restoration works at Leinster House, the historic gates to the Kildare Street entrances to Leinster House were removed for repair and conservation. The gates were replaced with temporary installations. Costs incurred for the fabrication of temporary gates, removal of the historic gates, replacement with temporary gates and electrical work was €27,900.00 (ex VAT).
On 2 August 2024, the OPW was notified that a vehicle had made contact with the gates at the Merrion Street entrance to Leinster House and at the Merrion Street entrance to Government Buildings. The damaged gates, which could not be repaired on site, were removed for surveying and conservation repairs. These were replaced with modern, temporary gates and remain in situ. The costs for the fabrication of temporary gates, removal of the historic gates, replacement with temporary gates and electrical work was €39,228 (ex VAT). It is not anticipated that the costs related to this incident will be recouped from any third party.
The OPW has undertaken an assessment of all of these gates and the repair and conservation of these gates has been included in the 2026 works programme. For commercially sensitive reasons, it is not possible, at this stage, to provide an overview of the projected costs.
