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National Monuments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Questions (403)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

403. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the total expenditure of €4.48 million for the conservation, protection and restoration of the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street; the amount spent on project management, architectural and engineering supervision, security, quantity surveying services and so on in tabular form; and the reason the stated objective to have the 1916 commemorative centre at least partially open to the public in time for the centenary of the Rising was not realised. [13326/21]

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Written answers

I refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No 120 of 18 February 2021. I am advised that it would not be appropriate at this stage to provide additional disaggregation of these costs on the grounds that they are commercially sensitive and that any such disclosure now would not be conducive to securing an optimal economic outcome to future procurement arrangements for the completion of the project.

As the Deputy will be aware, the works on the conservation and restoration of the national monument buildings were disrupted in early 2016, for some period of time. Arising from legal proceedings in the High Court the Department then ceased the contract apart from completing essential stabilisation and preservation measures approved by the Court itself. These works were not sufficient to allow the buildings to be opened to the public. The High Court judgments were later overturned in all respects by the Court of Appeal in February 2018.

Both Minister O’Brien and I are working closely with all key stakeholders and are keen that the necessary works be completed and that the national monument buildings are open to the public as soon as possible.

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