Vol. 439 No. 3
5 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the proposed sale of St. Catherine's Church, Thomas Street; if this is in line with his conservation policy and to the concerns of many individuals about the proposed sale of this church; if he will outline his policy in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
St. Catherine's Church, Thomas Street, Dublin, is owned by Dublin Corporation and I understand that it is currently in very poor condition. This church was deconsecrated in 1967 and subsequently handed over to Dublin Corporation by the Church of Ireland. It is listed for preservation in the 1991 Dublin City Development Plan. I am indeed aware that it has been offered for sale by private treaty subject to a brief requiring that the structure of the building be preserved in its present form and that the building be used for cultural, educational, artistic or civic purposes.
The critical issue in relation to heritage buildings of this kind is to find a contemporary use for them that will ensure their continuance as living buildings. If the corporation can find a purchaser either in the public sector or the private sector with a proposal for an appropriate use of the building which will respect its architectural features, then this would be a happy outcome.
Is it not ironic, at a time when millions of pounds are being poured into interpretative centres and new cultural quarters, that we cannot secure the future of one of the most important historic buildings in Dublin? As the Minister is aware, St. Catherine's Church is one of the principal historic landmarks in Dublin. Will we look back in a few years and be sorry that a piecemeal approach was adopted to the preservation of these buildings? Will the Minister become involved in discussions to secure the future of this building and many other churches? We need a policy on this issue.
The Deputy will agree that it would be more appropriate to have a policy on heritage within which one looks at church buildings rather than a policy on churches within which one seeks to locate a heritage policy, and there is a difference. I am aware of the significance of St. Catherine's Church; Robert Emmet was executed in front of the church in 1803. Far from needing any encouragement to become involved I have been trying to find ways in which the future of the building might be secured. In that regard my programme manager, with officials of Dublin Corporation, recently visited the church in the context of a tentative proposal from the corporation for a cultural tourism project to be funded by a grant or European Union funding. I am also aware that the United States ambassador has expressed an interest in an appropriate use of the church. Following discussions between the ambassador and the corporation different uses and possible sources of funding were investigated. These have been followed up by my programme manager and we are looking at ways in which we can be of assistance.
I was referring to the policy on heritage of which the policy on churches forms part. There is a gap in this policy. As the Minister may be aware, the scaffolding at St. George's church on the north side of the city is now so rusty that it is a danger. It is clear there is a gap in the policy on heritage and it has led to the destruction of old buildings. What is the Minister's view of the proposal that this church should be transformed into a cultural centre with a link to the Linenhall Library in Belfast?
The Deputy will be aware that three proposals are being considered. These include an approach from an association which would use it for office development; another suggests it be used to encourage enterprise and create a link with the local area while the third suggests its use for cultural purposes drawing on its previous usage as a music venue. It would be wrong of me when proposals are being examined to express a preference. This church was deconsecrated in 1967 and the difficulty is that it was handed over in a dilapidated condition. All the proposals are being examined and we will try to find a happy resolution. When the legislation on the Heritage Council is implemented and a new Heritage Council is appointed there will be more coherence. The scaffolding to which the Deputy referred was erected before my appointment.
It has been there since the time of Robert Emmet.
A headquarters for the Fine Gael Party perhaps with a jennet.
Is that where they are at present?
