THE Office of Public Works has declined to say how much is being spent on the latest phase of the restoration of Leinster House, because it is "not our policy to give the value of individual contracts".
A year after scaffolding was taken down from the Kildare Street front of the building, it is back up again - this time on its Corinthian portico. But the OPW spokesman emphasised that the work done in 1995 was not being re done.
"It may have appeared that it was all done, but that's not the case," he explained. "The work is being done in phases and this is the final phase. Basically, it involves cleaning and restoration of the stonework."
Some of the limestone is so decayed it is being replaced with newly quarried stone. And like the work done a year ago, the latest phase will involve "tinting" of the new stone to make it look the same colour.
Last year, before an English company called Construction Cosmetics Ltd was brought in to tint the new stone, some members of the Irish Georgian Society complained the then blotchy facade looked like a patchwork quilt.
"Even with the best of intentions, it can be very difficult to find the right stone to blend in with a face that's been exposed for a quarter of a millennium," the consultant architect, Mr David Slattery, said at the time.
Mr Slattery could not be contacted yesterday to comment on the latest works. But the OPW spokesman said it was "not the case that they're going over work done a year ago. The section they're doing now wasn't done last year".
One of the main reasons for the long hiatus is that work on Leinster House is generally carried out while the Dail and Seanad are in recess. The latest phase is due to be completed before the two houses return in October.
The work is being done by International Contract Cleaners and is believed to be costing £300,000. In addition, the foyer, members' bar and public bar are also being renovated prior to an EU Finance Ministers' meeting next month.
