Repairs Force Seanad To Relocate

Body The Irish 'Upper House', the Seanad, will relocate to Dublin's Natural History museum soon, while repairs are carried out to Leinster House, it has been revealed.

Parts of the 250-year-old building are due to close for at least a year from this summer in order for urgent repairs to be carried out, due to concerns about the stability of the structure.

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The 'Lower House", the Dail chamber itself will not be affected, nor will Leinster House 2000 - an extension added that year - or the engineering block or the annex. During the closure, access to the Dáil chamber will be through a new entrance.

It has also been reported that some staff will be relocated to other buildings near Leinster House while the refurbishment is carried out.

The closure will be the first time that Leinster House has been closed since the State acquired the building in 1922.

The Irish Parliament consists of two Houses, Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.

A general election to Seanad Éireann must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of Dáil Éireann.

Seanad Éireann is composed of 60 Members and there are 166 TDs in the Dáil.

(KMcA)(BMcC)