More than €54,000 in funding has been allocated for immediate conservation works at Vernon Mount House in Frankfield, Cork; the College Garden Boundary Wall at St Mary's College, Youghal, Cork and at Ballysampson House in Wexford.

Vernon Mount House is a late 18th Century villa of significant special interest. A grant of €22,500 is being provided by the Minister to Cork County Council, which will allow for conservation works to be carried out to prevent the structure of this historic building from further deterioration.

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The College Garden Boundary Wall at St Mary's College, Youghal, dating from the early 17th Century, is part of a protected structure and recorded monument. It forms part of the boundary of the medieval walled gardens of St Mary's College was created by royal charter in 1464 over a hundred years prior to Trinity College, Dublin. The wall, which borders a public road and is currently cordoned off by the Council, requires emergency stabilisation works. A sum of €20,000 allocated by the Minister will help fund the most urgent of the repairs required.

Ballysampson House is an 18th Century farmhouse given as the birthplace of Commodore John Barry (1745-1803), 'Father of the American Navy', whose statue stands on Crescent Quay, Wexford. Ballysampson House is of considerable historic importance due to its association with Commodore Barry. An allocation of €12,000 to Wexford County Council has been approved to fund urgent repair works to safeguard the house.

(CD/JP)