asked the Minister for Local Government whether central municipal offices will be constructed by Dublin Corporation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
462.
Written Answers. - Dublin Municipal Offices.
461.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will indicate the powers invoked by him in preventing development of the Wine-tavern Street site as municipal offices for Dublin Corporation.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 461 and 462 together.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement in the matter which I issued through the Government Information Services yesterday 13th instant. A copy of the statement is attached.
Intervention in the matter was based on the right of the Government to take action in a matter of serious public interest, quite apart from my control over the capital expenditure of local authorities.
Following is the statement:
Dublin Corporation Civic Offices Project.
The Government decided in November last that the development of the site at Wood Quay/Winetavern Street for civic offices should cease pending consultation and further investigation. The City Manager was advised accordingly and it was conveyed to him that the Minister wished the further consideration to include an examination of possible alternative locations for the civic offices.
The Government's decision that the project should be further considered reflected their misgivings regarding the use of the particular site for civic offices because of its significant location in relation to Christchurch Cathedral, its archaeological importance and its value as an open space in the context of the Government's desire to develop the Liberties and surrounding areas for housing.
The City Manager submitted a report in the matter to the Department in December.
The Minister has had a re-appraisal made of the project taking account of planning, archaeological and general amenity considerations. The possibilities and implications of using an alternative site for the civic offices have also been assessed. The Minister has had discussions in the matter with the City Commissioners.
The Commissioners at a meeting on 4th instant passed a resolution recommending that the civic offices project be proceeded with on the Wood Quay/Winetavern Street site on the basis of a regrouping of the buildings on the site to a plan submitted to them by their consultants.
The matter has now been considered further by the Government and the Minister has conveyed to the Corporation that no objection will be raised to the scheme proposed in the Commissioners' Resolution of 4th instant.
Account has been taken in particular of the fact that the amended scheme, while allowing the archaeological examination of the site to proceed, will leave a sizeable area available for suitable open space/ amenity development with a clear view of the Cathedral over that space. Account was also taken of the urgency of the Corporation's need for modern centralised accommodation and the fact that the amended scheme can go ahead with very little delay.