I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. The background to this issue is that a planning application was lodged by Collen Brothers with Dublin Corporation for a major redevelopment of the Wiggins Teape complex on East Wall Road. There was extensive consultation between the East Wall Residents Association, the developers and Dublin Corporation's planning department. It was agreed by all concerned that the central section of the front facade along with the main entrance would be retained and integrated into the new development. This arrangement was seen as a reasonable compromise by the residents association and by local representatives, including myself. Planning permission was granted on that basis. A third party, however, appealed, as was his right, to An Bord Pleanála. The board then, in its wisdom, decided to refuse permission and stated in its decision that the board carefully weighed the arguments in relation to the significance of the Wiggins Teape building and concluded that the entire front portion of the building, including the forward elements of the side elevations, was worthy of retention and would be capable of being integrated satisfactorily into a new development on the site. However, it was the view of the board that this would require redesign of the development as a whole.
Two days later, Collen Brothers, deliberately and in a calculated act of defiance of the findings of An Bord Pleanála, sent in the bulldozers in the early hours of the morning of Saturday, 16 June – Bloomsday – to demolish the frontage of the building that had just been described as being of architectural and historical significance. There is only one way to describe what was done – it was an act of despicable vandalism. Collen Brothers, the perpetrator of this destruction, is now rewarded with a cleared site with no obstacle of architectural value in the way of its redevelopment.
However, its vandalism has drawn attention to the potential threat from unscrupulous developers hanging over many unlisted buildings in Dublin city. Steps must be taken to prevent this type of thing happening again. What is urgently required is a comprehensive survey of all buildings of merit in Dublin city. This would complement the national inventory of architectural heritage being compiled under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands throughout the country but, significantly, not in Dublin.
The survey I propose could follow the inventory being compiled with European funding by the Historic Heart of Dublin, a joint venture between Dublin Corporation and the Civic Trust, which ends in June this year. This pilot scheme concentrated on a limited area of the city; the same inventory urgently needs to be carried out citywide. Neither the funds nor the personnel are available to Dublin Corporation to carry out a comprehensive survey. It would have to be State supported. Perhaps the Minister of State will indicate if the necessary resources will be granted to Dublin Corporation to deal with this important matter. The extremely able conservation officer and her assistant in Dublin Corporation are already working flat out and under severe pressure with responsibilities arising from the recent changes in planning legislation and over 9,000 protected structures in Dublin city.
Other steps that could be taken to prevent further destruction or vandalism should include the introduction of some form of licensing or permit before any building of a significant size can be demolished. At present, no authorisation is required for buildings other than listed buildings, habitable houses and other exceptional circumstances. Surely a similar decision by An Bord Pleanála should imply a stay of execution on the demolition of buildings which the board considers to have special architectural merit, if only to give the planning authority time to react to the board's findings.
The developer, Collen Brothers, which was responsible for this act, should be prosecuted for vandalism and anti-social behaviour. This type of irresponsible action, motivated solely by greed, should not be allowed go unpunished. I fail to see the difference between this act of appalling vandalism and any other. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform should call in the Garda and prosecute the perpetrator for vandalism.
