A spokesperson for the Office of Public Works (OPW) told Irish Legal News they were forced to pause works on the dome between January and May 2021 in line with public health restrictions on construction-related activities.

“The current investigative enabling phase of works is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2021 by when the OPW is expected to have determined and planned the nature, extent and timescale of the remaining works to be undertaken,” they added.

The Four Courts dome is undergoing an extensive programme of investigation, assessment and repair to the dome structure, including the dome, the decorative and supporting stone entablature and the capitals.

The works currently underway include:

• Installation of health and safety access system to dome gutters (incl. fall arrest system) for future maintenance
• Examination of the concrete dome and carry out necessary remediation work
• Investigate, repair and/or replacement of stone capitals, where necessary
• Investigate, assess and repair/replace the steel angle to circumference immediately over the capitals
• New lining to gutter at the base of the dome
• Replacement of lightning protection
• Repair/replacement of metal framing and fixing for the lathe and plaster dome
• Assessment and repairs to entablature stonework

Lawyers in Dublin are now well-accustomed to the sight of the Four Courts dome shrouded in scaffolding, which has been in place since the start of 2015.

The OPW said the scaffolding is necessary to “facilitate access, investigation, testing, analysis, assessment and for undertaking works safely both internally and externally”.