Diocese defends upgrade of office and residence

NO PARISH funds have been used in a renovation of the curial offices and bishop’s residence, the diocese of Down and Connor said this week following criticism of the two-year project, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

The diocese defended the work on the listed building as being necessary for health and safety as well as structural reasons, and said that eventually it will reduce overall costs.

Last week, representatives of lay groups claimed the estimated total spend on the project exceeded £1 million. They called for the diocese to publish the breakdown of costs and how the revamp was funded.

According to the diocese, funding for the project, which includes additional offices to accommodate the current staff of 20, car parking, and conference and meeting facilities, came from two bequests and a grant for the 140-year-old house from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

The diocese said the works undertaken addressed the building’s health-and-safety issues and structural defects.