Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
577. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will set a date for his meeting with the concerned relatives of the signatories to the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic as agreed at the 1916 Rising Commemoration 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13247/14]
View answer588. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the fact that information in the Chartered Land consent application on the status of 18 Moore Street is incorrect and cannot be relied upon by him; if he will sanction a full independent survey of No. 18 and all structures within the boundary of the national monument and carry out his obligations under the preservation order of 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13552/14]
View answer589. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the developers of the environmental impact study in relation to Moore Street and the submission itself were drawn up in full consultation with officials from his Department; if he will provide a record of the meetings and decisions taken between officials in his Department and the developers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13553/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 577, 588 and 589 together.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 206 on 4 March 2014, in which I advised that I would consider the issue of any further meeting with the 1916 relatives once I had received and considered the completed designs submitted by the consent applicant for verification of compliance with the decision I made on the consent application in July 2013. These final designs have now been submitted to my Department and I will, therefore, be happy to meet with the relatives in the coming period. I understand that a date for the proposed inspection of the national monument on behalf of the 1916 relatives has been agreed by the owners.
The requirement for the submission of an Environmental Impact Statement as part of the consent application arose in this case as a consequence of new statutory requirements I introduced on 9 July 2012 in accordance with EU Directive 2011/92/EU. The consent applicant was asked to submit the required Environmental Impact Statement on 10 July 2012. My Department provides an advisory service in relation to compliance with the statutory requirements under codes of legislation relating to monuments and archaeology, the built heritage, and nature and wildlife protection. In this regard, five informal meetings took place between my Department and the applicants and their representatives between July 2012 and the submission of the Environmental Impact Statement in January 2013.
In relation to No. 18 Moore Street, the Deputy will appreciate that my functions, as Minister, relate to ensuring that any works to that building do not adversely impact on the adjacent national monument. The Preservation Order was made on the grounds that the protection of No. 16 is of national importance by reason of its historical significance as the site of the final council of war and final headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising. To achieve that objective, the Order also covers Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and includes the yards to the rear of Nos. 15 and 16 Moore Street, extending to Nos. 8 and 9 Moore Lane. The position regarding the area outside of the monument is set out in the planning permissions granted by Dublin City Council and An Bord Pleanála.
