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National Monuments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Questions (429, 434, 435, 445, 446, 447)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

429. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 6 February 2014, the person that will be the recipient of the public moneys being set aside for the restoration of the national monument at Moore Street; the reason the announcement was made before he received the revised consent application for the proposed work and before the planning authority considers it; if the money set aside for the restoration will also include demolishing surrounding buildings directly linked to the 1916 Rising; and his views that the recommendations of the national museum and Dublin City Council Moore Street advisory committee will be respected. [7735/14]

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Sandra McLellan

Question:

434. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress made on the development of the Moore Street site, including the agreed inspection of the site; the status of number 18 Moore Street, the National Museum reports and the Chartered Land consent reports. [7908/14]

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Sandra McLellan

Question:

435. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he or his Department is aware of funds being set aside by the National Asset Management Agency for works in the Moore Street area. [7909/14]

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Kevin Humphreys

Question:

445. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the development of the 1916 national monument on Moore Street; if there have been discussions or briefings with the owners of the site (details supplied) regarding the condition of the buildings and future plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8374/14]

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Kevin Humphreys

Question:

446. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the resources that have been set aside for a survey and any required works to ensure the structural integrity of the buildings at the 1916 national monument on Moore Street; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8375/14]

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Kevin Humphreys

Question:

447. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if any surveys have been carried out in recent months to define and record the extent, quality and integrity of the 1916 national monument on Moore Street; and if he will provide any information he has on the site and any interaction with the owners over recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8376/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 429, 434, 435 and 445 to 447, inclusive, together.

On 16 July 2013 I made a determination under the National Monuments Acts in relation to a consent application and related Environmental Impact Statement submitted by the owners in relation to proposed works on the Moore Street national monument site. My decision on the consent application provided, inter alia, for the full repair and restoration of the monument buildings and the creation of a commemorative centre to honour the leaders of the 1916 Rising.

My Department has recently received confirmation from the National Asset Management Agency that it has approved funding for works covered by the consent I have given under the National Monuments Acts, subject to compliance with all statutory processes. The arrangements for the disbursement of the NAMA funding are a matter for the Agency itself.

The national monument is in private ownership and, accordingly, the advancement of proposals that reflect the terms of the consent I have granted is a matter for the owners. The consent is, however, conditional on a revised project design that takes full account of the terms of my decision being submitted for my approval within 9 months of the decision date. A further condition requires substantive works to commence on site within 3 months of the approval of the revised proposals.

There have been a number of meetings between my Department and the monument owners in the meantime to discuss and clarify various aspects of the 52 detailed conditions set out in the consent order with the intention of ensuring that the designs for the approved works are fully compliant with what I have prescribed. There have also been discussions in relation to the site investigations needed to determine the works that will be necessary to stabilise and underpin the monument buildings. As part of these investigations, the cellars under the yards to the rear of monument buildings, which I understand were in use until relatively recently, have been re-opened and are currently being cleared out.

My understanding is that the completed designs for the approved works will be submitted to me in the near future to verify that they are in compliance with the consent order. They will be assessed as quickly as possible on receipt to establish whether they conform to the terms of my decision on the consent application. The consultation procedures prescribed under the National Monuments Acts have already been completed in this case as part of the processing of the consent application and related Environmental Impact Assessment. No.18 Moore Street is outside the bounds of the Preservation Order in this case and my role in relation to that building is confined to ensuring that any works to it do not adversely impact on the adjacent national monument.

As the national monument is not in the ownership of the State, the practical arrangements for the proposed survey of the national monument buildings by the 1916 relatives’ representative group, which the monument owners have agreed to in principle, are matters for the group and the owners to agree. The arrangements for the management of the buildings once work is completed is primarily a matter for the owners.

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