Beautiful old floorboards ripped out of Dáil library and replaced with laminate
THE Oireachtas has landed in hot water after historic floorboards were removed during a revamp of the old Dáil library and replaced with laminate flooring in an alleged breach of planning laws.
The matter was first raised by Senator Michael McDowell, who was scathing of initial works on the old library, which he described as a ‘serious mutilation of a protected structure’.
After examining the works, the former attorney general told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘The floorboards were all taken up and they have now been replaced by chipboard on beams.’
He said this left the historic space resembling ‘a semi-used backroom in a down-at-heel hotel in the middle of nowhere’.
Mr McDowell added: ‘The vandalism that has already occurred by the mutilation of that room and the ripping up of floorboards is a breach of Section 51 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.’
The former justice minister and Progressive Democrats leader said that when it comes to a preserved structure, ‘you cannot rip up the floorboards and put down chipboard without consulting the planning authority’.
Mr McDowell cited correspondence from Dublin City Council’s acting senior executive, architectural conservation officer Niamh Kiernan, who confirmed the Oireachtas did not consult the local authority about the works.
Ms Kiernan also said ripping up the original library floorboards and replacing them with composite wood laminate sheeting would be ‘considered contrary to good conservation practice and would not be acceptable in any protected structure’.
In response to Mr McDowell’s queries about whether or not consent was sought for the floor works, Ms Kiernan replied that the council’s conservation team ‘have had no involvement, nor have we been informed of any such work in Leinster House’. Ms Kiernan said: ‘There was a planning application in
March 2017 which involved extensive works to the interior and exterior of Leinster House. Unfortunately, as this was a Part 9 application from the Office of Public Works (OPW) (and additional security protocols were enacted), there is no information publicly available I can interrogate to assess whether the replacement of wooden floorboards and their replacement with a laminate surface formed part of that application.’
Ms Kiernan said: ‘In principle, the loss of sound material such as wooden floorboards (this would include both historic and more modern boards where protected structures are involved) and their replacement with a laminate surface is not supported from a conservation standpoint under any circumstance. It is considered contrary to good conservation practice and would not be acceptable in any protected structure, and certainly not in a historic building as significant as Leinster House.’
Commenting on Ms Kiernan’s response, Mr McDowell told the MoS: ‘We need clarity on the planning status of the refurbished library as a matter of urgency. Is the new library planning compliant? If it is not, who is responsible for that and who authorised this change?
‘It would send a dreadful public message if the Oireachtas ignores planning legislation.
‘The Oireachtas cannot be seen to breach planning procedures.’
Independent Senator Victor Boyhan called on Patrick O’Donovan, Minister of State with responsibility for Office of Public Works, to intervene in the ‘sorry saga’. Senator Boyhan said: ‘He [Mr O’Donovan] is a custodian of this building; he is legally responsible for it.’
The floors works are part of a planned €5m revamp of the Dáil library. Under plans, the old Oireachtas library will be replaced by a new reading room, called ‘The Duke’s Library’.
A third Dáil chamber will also be built to host debates and Dáil committee hearings with smaller attendances. But the cost of the refurbishment is causing considerable unease.
Senator Boyhan told the MoS: ‘The previous library had the most beautiful stucco ceiling, architecture, and fireplaces. The furniture that was in it has been dispersed. I cannot say where the lamps, light standards, brass fittings, and lovely glazed globes are, but surely someone knows Someone must be accountable.’
An Oireachtas spokesperson told the MoS it was a matter for the OPW, while the OPW did not respond to queries or say what became of the floorboards.