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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Nov 2015

Vol. 896 No. 2

Priority Questions

Heritage Council Funding

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

1. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding being provided for the Heritage Council in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39716/15]

This is a simple and straightforward question which seeks to establish the funding situation of the Heritage Council. I am particularly conscious of the fact that the Heritage Council, like all other State bodies, has understandably suffered significant cutbacks. Will the Minister of State give some sense of what is going to happen?

My Department is considering the funding available for the protection and conservation of the built heritage in 2016 in the context of its overall allocation and I will publish details of funding schemes for 2016 as soon as these are finalised. Funding for the protection of built heritage will continue to be provided by my Department via a number of schemes which will be either directly administered or delivered through local authorities and agencies such as the Heritage Council.

As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. Nonetheless, I keep the competing priorities regarding the preservation and enhancement of the national heritage under ongoing review having regard to the resources available to my Department. In this regard, my Department, in consultation with the Heritage Council, will be undertaking an expenditure review of the Heritage Council in early 2016 with a view to identifying any further improvements that might be achieved in the delivery of heritage services.

My Department's allocation to the Heritage Council in 2016 will be subject to the normal budgetary processes and final confirmation in the Revised Estimates. It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports in 2016 and future years having regard to competing priorities for limited resources.

Has the Minister refused a request this year from the Heritage Council for a modest increase of €2.5 million in its budget? The background to this debate is the meeting of the Oireachtas committee earlier this week in which we looked at the value for money report on the work of the Arts Council. It is difficult to quantify and produce data in respect of the value of this work, even though it is clear there is value in it. In the area of heritage, however, there are clear data available which suggest that public investment in the built heritage and in the works being undertaken by the Heritage Council delivers a dividend for the State. The figures suggest that every €1 spent by the Department through the Heritage Council generates €4.40 in tourism revenue for the State. When the Heritage Council looks for more money it is looking for further investment to generate product for the State.

I acknowledge the work of the Heritage Council and the great work it does with communities. In its pre-budget submission the council requested additional funding to invest in heritage-based initiatives, including an extended walled town network. While this investment would be well spent, the reality is we are still living within constrained budgets and we have responsibility to manage the economy in a prudent fashion. While I would love to be in a position to announce broad spending increases across all sections of my Department it would not be realistic, pragmatic or responsible.

I was pleased to announce a new built heritage investment scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures, and this scheme is modelled on the built heritage jobs leverage scheme announced in 2013 which was very successfully piloted in 2014, resulting in the leveraging of almost €10 million in private sector investment and generating approximately 175 whole-time-equivalent jobs.

We estimate that there are 25,000 jobs involved in the area of Ireland's historic environment and that €1.5 billion is being generated, so when we talk about investment in the Heritage Council, it is investment, not expenditure, and it more than pays for itself. Is it true the Minister of State has refused the extra €2.5 million for which the Heritage Council asked? Where stands the action plan promised for historic properties? Has it been published yet? If it has not, when will it be published? Is the Minister going to develop the heritage in schools programme into second level where there is obviously a need? What more can she do to support the work of heritage officers? In Kildare, for example, we have an outstanding heritage officer who does great work and one can see tangible benefits from what she does on the ground in the form of additional visits to Kildare. I am sure it is the same in the Minister's county and in many others throughout country. What will the Minister do to ensure there is additional spending which gives rise to revenue for the Exchequer?

I have announced an extra €2 million for heritage investment, similar to the jobs leverage programme in 2014. This is direct investment in heritage which will be rolled out through local authorities and community groups, and individuals will have an opportunity to apply for funding. It is a 50:50 project, so if someone comes up with 50% of the funding, the other 50% will be provided by the Department. I agree with the Deputy that heritage is very important and I acknowledge the work of heritage officers on the ground who have done great work in mobilising communities. We all know how many local heritage groups there are and how they work together to improve the heritage offering in all counties. I am a member of a heritage group myself.

Seirbhísí Eitilte

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

2. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú maidir leis na céimeanna atá á nglacadh ag an Roinn chun próiseas nua tairisceana a chur ar bun maidir leis an aersheirbhís go hÁrainn; cén rannpháirtíocht a bheidh ag pobal an oileáin sa phróiseas; agus an bhfuil sí ábalta a dheimhniú gur seirbhís eitleáin sciatháin dhobhogtha amach as Aerfort Réigiúnach Chonamara a bheidh á lorg. [39632/15]

An dtabharfaidh an tAire soiléiriú maidir leis na céimeanna atá á nglacadh ag a Roinn chun próiseas nua tairisceana a chur ar fáil maidir le seirbhís aeir go dtí Oileáin Árann? Cén rannpháirtíocht a bheidh ag an bpobal sa phróiseas nua seo? An ndeimhneoidh sí gur seirbhís eitleán sciatháin dhobhogtha a bheidh ann agus gurb as Aerfort Chonamara a bheidh an tseirbhís á chur ar fáil?

Glaoim ar an Teachta. Gabh mo leithscéal, glaoim ar an Aire Stáit.

Ná bí buartha faoi sin, a Cheann Comhairle. Mar is eol don Teachta, rinne mo Roinn athbhreithniú a choimisiúnú anuraidh ar an tseirbhís aeir i gcomhréir leis an Rialachán AE ábhartha. Léirigh an t-athbhreithniú a rinne EY go raibh cás socheacnamaíoch ann don tseirbhís aeir. Léiríodh fosta go raibh sé riachtanach sábháiltí a bhaint amach i gcomhthéacs an mhéadaithe de 136% a bhí tagtha ar chostas na seirbhíse aeir le linn na tréimhse athbhreithnithe deich mbliana a bhí faoi chaibidil sa tuarascáil.

Bunaithe ar mholtaí an athbhreithnithe agus tar éis dul i ndáil chomhairle le pobal Oileáin Árann, cuireadh próiseas tairisceana ar bun chun conradh a aontú don tseirbhís aeir don tréimhse ón 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2015 go dtí an 30 Meán Fómhair 2019. Is í an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais a bhí i mbun an phróisis tairisceana a reáchtáil thar ceann mo Roinne i gcomhréir leis an Rialachán AE. Os rud é nach bhfuil sainmhíniú ná teorannú déanta ag an AE ar na cineálacha aerárthaí ar ar féidir bealaí faoi oibleagáid seirbhíse poiblí a thairiscint ina leith, ní fhéadfaí a leithéid a dhéanamh faoin bpróiseas tairisceana.

Ón uair gur bunaíodh an oibleagáid seirbhíse poiblí faoin Rialachán AE i 2001, bhí Aerfort na Gaillimhe agus Aerfort na Mine san áireamh i ngach aon phróiseas tairisceana don tseirbhís aeir. Ciallaíonn an cur chuige seo go bhfuil an próiseas iomaíoch is leithne ann chun an luach is fearr ar airgead a fháil don Státchiste.

Tar éis measúnú a bheith déanta ar na hiarratais faoin bpróiseas tairisceana, fógraíodh an tairgeoir roghnaithe don chonradh seirbhíse aeir ar an 26 Lúnasa faoi réir chomhlíonadh tréimhse sosa deonaí de 14 lá. Le linn an phróisis tairisceana, tháinig sé chun solais go raibh éiginnteacht ag baint le hAerfort na Gaillimhe a bheith ar fáil don tairgeoir roghnaithe don tréimhse iomlán ceithre bliana den chonradh a bhí beartaithe. Tar éis do mo Roinn soiléiriú a fháil maidir leis seo, tógadh an cinneadh go raibh údair oibiachtúla ann chun deireadh a chur leis an bpróiseas tairisceana. Cuireadh an cinneadh sin in iúl do na tairgeoirí agus chuaigh mo Roinn i mbun idirbheartaíochta leis an soláthróir reatha chun conradh eatramhach bliana a aontú go 30 Meán Fómhair 2016.

Le linn na tréimhse atá amach romhainn, beidh mo Roinn, i gcomhar leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais, ag tabhairt faoi phróiseas tairisceana úr chun conradh ceithre bliana a aontú don tréimhse ó 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2016. Déanfar é seo i gcomhréir leis na riachtanais dhlíthiúla faoi na rialacha náisiúnta soláthair agus an Rialachán AE ábhartha.

Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Is é an rud atá déanta ag an Aire Stáit ná stair na ceiste seo a chur os comhair an Tí. Tá eolas maith againn ar an stair. Tá scata ceist faoi leith agamsa. An bhfuil an próiseas úr tosaithe ó thaobh an PSO fá choinne na ceithre bliana amach anseo? An bhfuil an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais ag plé leis an gceist seo arís? Má tá, an bhfuil critéir nua leagtha amach fá choinne an PSO ar feadh na ceithre bliana sin? An féidir leis an Aire Stáit iad san a fhoilsiú? An gcinnteoidh na critéir seo gur seirbhís as Aerfort Chonamara a bheidh ann san tairiscint úr? An seirbhís eitleán sciatháin dhobhogtha a bheidh ann? An mbeidh ionadaithe ar son phobal na n-oileán ar an bpainéal measúnaithe? Cén scála ama a bheidh ann agus tairiscint á dhéanamh agus deireadh leis an bpróiseas seo?

Beidh comhairliúchán cuimsitheach ag dul ar aghaidh amach anseo. Bhí díospóireacht agam leis na daoine ar Oileáin Árann. Comhrá neamh-fhoirmiúil a bhí i gceist ansin. Bhí cruinniú agam mí ó shin le mo chuid oifigigh agus bhí cruinniú agam le Comhdháil na nOileán. D'ardaigh na daoine a bhí ag an gcruinniú sin an t-ábhar seo. Maidir le cén uair a bheidh an conradh úr fógraithe, le cloí leis an rialachán, caithfidh an próiseas tairisceana úr a bheith fógraithe in Iris Oifigiúil an Aontais Eorpaigh faoi 30 Márta 2016. Níl mé in ann freagra a thabhairt ar na ceisteanna maidir leis an gcineál tairiscintí a bheidh ar fáil nó an sciatháin dhobhogtha a bheidh ann. An príomhrud anois ná an comhrá le muintir Árann. Tá stair mór ann ó thaobh na ceiste seo agus eolas againn as sin. Tá súil agam go gcoimeádfaidh na cinnirí ar Oileáin Árann leis an obair atá ar siúl acu ar son mhuintir Árann. Bhí daoine faoi bhrú san am atá imithe tharainn. B'fhéidir gurb é an rud is tábhachtaí amach anseo ná an comhrá agus an díospóireacht idir na geallshealbhóirí.

Caithfidh an próiseas seo a bheith críochnaithe roimh 30 Márta an bhliain seo chugainn. Níl ann ach ceithre mhí go leith agus aimsir na Nollag ina lár. Cathain a bheidh an próiseas ag tosú go hoifigiúil? Cathain a bheidh critéir leagtha amach ó thaobh na dtairiscintí? Cathain a dhéanfar cinneadh gurb as Aerfort Chonamara nó as an dá aerfoirt a chaithfear an tseirbhís seo a chur ar fáil? Cathain a dhéanfar cinneadh gurb seirbhís eitleán sciatháin dhobhogtha in Indreabhán a bheidh á chur ar fáil? Cathain a bheidh cinnteacht ann nach mbeidh an córas lochtach a bhí ann anuraidh á úsáid nuair a thógadh an tseirbhís seo as Indreabhán go dtí Aerfort na Gaillimhe? Caithfidh cinéal cinnteachta a bheith ag pobal an cheantair. Ní hamháin gur chóir go mbeadh comhairliúchán ann ach ba chóir comhairliúchán oifigiúil a bheith ann. An mbeidh ionadaithe phobail na n-oileán ar an bpainéal measúnaithe? Sin ceist mhór fosta.

Cinnte go bhfuil an cheist seo iontach tábhachtach. Bhí cruinniú agam le Comhdháil na nOileán ach beidh mé ag iarraidh cruinniú eile leis na ngeallsealbhóirí ar na hoileáin. Tá sé ar m'intinn cruinniú a eagrú amach anseo. Tríd an bpróiseas, roimh na rudaí éiginnteachta teacht ar an bhfód, bhí mé faoi bhrú toisc an t-eolas a bhfuair mé ón Ard-Aighne. Ní raibh mé in ann aon fhocal a rá faoi ag an am toisc gurbh próiseas neamhspleách a bhí i gceist. Bhí ról ag an Oifig um Sholáthair Rialtais i 2014. Sin an próiseas úr maidir le seo. Ní raibh aon difríocht ar bith ann idir an próiseas i 2001 nuair a bhí Aerfort na Minne agus Aerfort na Gaillimhe clúdaithe sna tairiscintí agus ag achan am ina dhiaidh sin. Bhí scéal mór ann agus díopóireacht mhór againn. Chonaic mé na deacrachtaí a bhí ann. Amach anseo, fanfaidh mé i dteagmháil leis na geallsealbhóirí ar na hoileáin. Beidh jab mór ann. Fanfaidh mo chuid oifigigh i dteagmháil leis na geallsealbhóirí ar na hoileáin fosta.

National Monuments

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will exercise the power conferred on her under the national monument certification process to undertake the preservation of 10 Moore Street in Dublin 1, identified by the National Museum as the point of entry into the terrace by the Irish garrison from the General Post Office, the location of the first council of war after the evacuation of the General Post Office, and where five signatories spent their last night before their surrender and execution, and those other buildings on the terrace identified in both the Frank Myles and Shaffrey reports. [39630/15]

I wish to ask the Minister about her powers under the national monuments certification process and if she will consider the preservation of No. 10 Moore Street, which has been identified as being of particular historical significance, as well as the other buildings identified in the Myles and Shaffrey reports.

My predecessor, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, placed a preservation order under the National Monuments Acts on Nos. 14-17 Moore Street on the premise that No. 16 was the final headquarters of the 1916 Rising and the location of the last council of war by the 1916 leaders when the decision to surrender was taken. Nos. 14, 15 and 17 Moore Street were included in the preservation order to enhance and preserve the amenity and setting of No. 16. Collectively, the four buildings represent the most significant, original, complete, discrete and continuous section of substantially intact pre-1916 buildings on the street, with most of the remaining buildings dating from after 1916.

While No. 10 Moore Street was the first building broken into by the insurgents, the building is now separated from the national monument by new buildings since built on the sites of Nos. 11, 12 and 13 and is, therefore, isolated from its context. Moreover, the facade of No. 10 has undergone significant interventions in the meantime which have compromised the architectural and historical integrity of the structure.

Outside of Nos. 14-17 Moore Street, the remaining parts of the terrace fail to meet the criteria of a national monument under the National Monuments Acts. Following my announcement earlier this week of the purchase of Nos. 14-17 Moore Street by the State and of the conservation and restoration now under way, I am satisfied that coupled with the new visitor centre being developed in the GPO, the Moore Street commemorative centre will be a fitting and lasting tribute to the 1916 Easter Rising.

I thank the Minister for her reply. I do not know if the Minister did a tour with the relatives group from the GPO all the way around to the point of the surrender. Each relative tells the story of their particular relative, whether it was Thomas MacDonagh, Joseph Plunkett, The O'Rahilly or James Connolly. It is an area that is steeped in history. Is there a concern that because of the lack of an independent survey and an assessment by suitably qualified persons, we could end up losing many other buildings of historic significance, not just No. 10 but O'Brien's mineral water building, the White House, Cogans, Hanlons and so on? The Minister must be aware of the passion of the relatives and their supporters who have a different vision for the restoration of the area. What do we want there? While a national monument at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street is welcome, we have to look at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street in the context of the wider area. I emphasise the need to be perfectly sure we are preserving the area that should be preserved because we will not get another chance.

I am satisfied we are preserving what is the national monument at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street. As the Deputy is aware, work has started on that site and it will be a lasting tribute to the memory of the rebels in the 1916 Rising. On the issue of the relatives, I am aware how passionate they are about this. We have been working with the relatives and have had numerous meetings with them. I have visited the site and have been around all the areas. I have visited Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 17 Moore Street and it is obvious they are substantially intact as per pre-1916 buildings. It is clear that many of the other buildings have been knocked down and rebuilt which is the case with those on either side. In regard to No. 10, independent reports were prepared for my Department by Shaffrey Associates architects and Frank Myles archaeologists in February 2012 as part of the examination of the proposed restoration project under the National Monuments Acts. These are eminent people in the archaeological, architectural and historical fields and my Department is satisfied with the quality of their research.

I thank the Minister.

Their report included an inspection, assessment and fabric investigations of an area incorporating the block from Moore Street, O'Rahilly Parade, Moore Lane and Henry Place and some of the areas south of Henry Place extending back towards Henry Street.

I acknowledge the group of supporters who are there every Saturday gathering thousands of petitions to save the whole area and the whole terrace. The Taoiseach referred to the laneways around there as the laneways of history. They are in danger of also being destroyed under this plan. One has to question the practicality and suitability of the current plan which is for a massive shopping centre which will dominate the area and is totally unsuitable alongside Nos. 14-17 Moore Street as the national monument. It will also threaten the street trading tradition that has been going on there for centuries. I ask the Minister to use her powers under the National Monuments Acts to save those laneways and remove them from the planning application in the way that Nos. 14-17 Moore Street were removed. We are missing an opportunity to develop the area in an innovative way that will preserve and respect its historical and cultural significance. Do we need another shopping centre there? Clerys has closed and Boyers is about to close. Is our vision for that street another shopping centre?

The decision to add structures to the record of protected structures is a matter for the local authority, in this case Dublin City Council. My responsibility is for Nos. 14-17 Moore Street, the national monument. We have been speaking to the traders. I have been down there and have met them and consulted them. They are very happy with the proposed development for Moore Street in terms of Nos. 14-17 and they are onside. They want to ensure they can continue to trade during this work. To be fair to the traders, when the work on Nos. 14-17 is completed as a new centre, it will allow people doing the tour in the GPO - 300,000 visitors are expected - to go through the route to the national monument which will be the 1916 Easter Rising centre. The development will upgrade the street. Having been down there two days it certainly needs a facelift. The development of Nos. 14-17 Moore Street would be a major boost for that area.

Seirbhísí Eitilte

Michael P. Kitt

Ceist:

4. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael P. Kitt den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta céard atá beartaithe aici mar gheall ar aersheirbhís go dtí Oileáin Árann; an bhfuil sí sásta conradh nua aersheirbhíse a thosú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [39717/15]

Tá ceist agam ar an Aire Stáit faoin aeirsheirbhís go hOileáin Árann. Nuair a chur mé ceist ar an Aire Stáit maidir le seo, bhí sé ag caint faoi sheirbhís héileacaptair. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil deireadh leis an gcaint sin anois. Tá muintir na n-oileán ag iarraidh freagraí ón Aire Stáit maidir leis an tseirbhís. Tá súil agam go mbeidh muid in ann níos mó eolais a fháil ón Aire Stáit faoin tseirbhís eitleán go dtí na hoileáin.

Beidh freagra ag an Teachta mar tá mé anseo. Is é an seasamh a bhí agam ón tús ná go raibh mé ag iarraidh go mbeadh seirbhís aeir ann i gcónaí d'Oileáin Árann le tacaíocht shuntasach airgeadais ón Rialtas, i gcomhréir leis an Rialachán AE maidir le seirbhísí aeir faoi oibleagáid seirbhíse poiblí. Is é sin an seasamh atá agam i rith an ama maidir leis an tseirbhís aeir. Le linn na tréimhse atá amach romhainn, beidh mo Roinn, i gcomhar leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais, ag tabhairt faoi phróiseas tairisceana úr chun conradh ceithre bliana a aontú don tréimhse ó 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2016. Déanfar é seo i gcomhréir leis na riachtanais dhlíthiúla faoi na rialacha náisiúnta soláthair agus an Rialachán AE ábhartha. Chun cloí leis an Rialachán AE ábhartha, caithfear nóta eolais faoin bpróiseas tairisceana a fhoilsiú in Iris Oifigiúil an AE faoin 30 Márta 2016.

Tá sé i gceist go mbeidh mo Roinn ag dul i ndáil chomhairle le pobal Oileáin Árann faoin bpróiseas tairisceana úr. Tá an próiseas sin tosaithe sa mhéid is gur pléadh an cheist ag cruinniú a bhí agam le Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann ar na mallaibh.

Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh leanúnachas ann. Tá an tseirbhís seo go dtí na hoileáin níos mó ná 40 bliain ar bun. Mar a dúirt an tAire Stáit, tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh an díospóireacht sin ann le muintir na n-oileán. Labhair an Teachta Éamon Ó Cuív faoi dhul i gcomhairle leis an HSE agus an Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, GRETB. Tá sé tábhachtach freisin go mbeadh an díospóireacht sin ann agus go mbeadh daoine in ann a rá leis an Aire Stáit go bhfuil níos mó ná aon tuairim amháin ann. Tá a lán daoine ag brath ar na cruinnithe sin.

Seirbhís leathúil a bhí ann ó Aerfort na Minne. Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, bhí plean ann go mbeadh an tseirbhís ar fáil ó Aerfort an Chairn Mhóir ar an taobh eile de chathair na Gaillimhe. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh an tAire Stáit in ann freagraí a thabhairt ar na ceisteanna sin.

Ag tús an scéil seo, an cloch is mó ar m'intinn ag an am ná an tseirbhís aeir go dtí na hoileáin a choinneáil. D'ardaigh an Teachta Kitt cúpla ceist i rith na mbliana seo imithe thart. Bhí imní ar an Teachta ag an am agus imní ar na hoileánaigh fosta. Ach sin ráite, níl athrú ar bith ann ar na rudaí sin. Beidh mise, an Rialtas agus mo chuid oifigeach ag coimeád an tseirbhís aeir go dtí na hoileáin. An rud is tábhachtaí a bhí ann maidir leis an bpróiseas ná sin an chéad uair a bhí an próiseas ag dul tríd an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais. Próiseas neamhspleách a bhí ann agus bhí an oifig sin freagrach as an bpróiseas. Ní raibh mise ábalta cur isteach ar an bpróiseas nó ábalta aon fhocal a rá le linn an phróisis. Sin na deacrachtaí a bhí ann ag an am. Is cinnte go raibh imní ar dhaoine na n-oileán agus b'fhéidir go bhfuil imní orthu fós, ach oibreoimid le chéile agus déanfaimid iarracht maidir leis na cruinnithe ábhartha éagsúla. Oibreoimid le muintir na n-oileán agus fanfaimid i dteagmháil leo amach anseo.

Is maith an rud go bhfuil an comhrá sin ar siúl ach tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh polasaí fad-téarmach ann. Níl sé sásúil a bheith ag fáil amach go bhfuil an tseirbhís ar fáil ach ar feadh bliain amháin eile. Níl daoine sásta leis sin. Tá an tseirbhís seo an-tábhachtach ó thaobh cúrsaí oideachais, sláinte, spóirt agus gnó. Baineann sé le gach seirbhís. Nuair a bhí an tAire Stáit ag déanamh díospóireachta ar seo sa Dáil cúpla mí ó shin, labhair sé faoin gcostas a bhaineann leis an tseirbhís aeir. Níl sé ceart béim a chur ar an gcostas. Tá an tseirbhís ann ar feadh níos mó ná 40 bliain agus is ceart go leanódh sé.

Tá mé ar an leathanach céanna leis an Teachta. Bhí cruinniú agam le Comhdháil na nOileán cúpla seachtain ó shin. Chuala mé ag an gcruinniú sin go raibh cruinnithe ar siúl faoi scáth Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe le coiste os na hoileáin. Tá an Teachta Kitt ceart agus é ag iarraidh comhrá idir an comhairle contae agus an coiste sin. Tá coiste faoi scáth an chomhairle contae i dTír Chonaill. Níl a fhios agam cén stádas a bheidh ag an gcoiste agus é faoi scáth Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe. Le linn an díospóireacht atá ar siúl le cúpla mí anois, bhí 18 gcloigne oifigeach ón gcomhairle contae ar na hoileáin ag cruinnithe poiblí. Is rud dearfach é sin. Chomh maith leis sin, tá mé ag iarraidh an chomhrá idir Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe, muintir na n-oileán agus daoine a bhfuil seasamh ceannaireachta ar an oileán acu a choinneáil beo. Tá sé sin tábhachtach. Dá mbeadh aon eolas ar fáil, tá mise agus mo chuid oifigeach anseo. Táim ag iarraidh bualadh le muintir Árann amach anseo fosta.

Ón tús bhí mé ag iarraidh na haersheirbhíse agus an ceangal idir an mhórthír agus Oileáin Árann a choinneáil. Amach anseo, beidh an Rialtas agus mise, mar Aire Stáit le freagracht as an nGaeltacht, ag coinneáil agus ag cosaint an cheangail sin atá ann idir Oileáin Árann agus an mhórthír. Tá sé sin tábhachtach leis. Mar a dúirt an Teachta Kitt, ó thaobh an ETB, cúrsaí sláinte agus oideachais, tá achan rud tábhachtach ó thaobh an cheangail idir an mhórthír agus na hoileáin.

National Monuments

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the person who costed and valued the sale of the NAMA-owned properties on the Moore Street battle site in Dublin 1; if there was a survey with a report available; if there will be a tendering process for contractors involved in the restoration; and when a timeframe will be drawn up for the works. [39631/15]

This question relates to the costing and valuation of the NAMA-owned properties on Moore Street and whether a survey was carried out on that. The rest of the question deals with the tendering process and the timeframe. I had tabled the question before the Minister announced the details of the monument.

The Government decided to acquire the national monument at Nos. 14–17 Moore Street because of its historical association with the events of Easter 1916. This decision demonstrates and acknowledges the historical importance of the site in a clear and substantive way and ensures that the long-term future of this historic landmark will be preserved and safeguarded. Bringing the monument into public ownership will also allow the development of a 1916 commemorative centre on the site.

The legal steps to bring the national monument into the ownership of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht have been completed. The purchase from the previous owner was effected with the assistance of NAMA and the consideration of €4 million was arrived at in the normal commercial manner.

I am now pressing ahead as a priority with arrangements to implement the Government’s decision in full. My Department concluded a tendering process for the scheme of conservation works initiated when the property was under lien by NAMA in order to get construction work under way as speedily as possible to prevent further deterioration of the fabric of the national monument buildings. This conservation work has now commenced and will be completed during the 2016 centenary year. Provision has been made to facilitate managed public access to the monument for some centenary events.

The work will be ongoing but we will try to allow some people in during the centenary events around Easter. The work will be painstaking and careful because most of it will involve restoration to bring the site back to its condition in 1916.

The announcement of plans for the commemorative centre is welcome. However, there are questions. The Minister has paid €4 million for what is a derelict site. Why were these buildings not handed over to the State by NAMA, instead of the State having to pay €4 million for a derelict site? The Minister and I have been in these buildings so we are aware of the state of them. On the tendering process, were there other tenders? Where did the figure of €5 million come from?

Was an approach made to Chartered Land, appealing to its sense of culture or history, if it has one, to take a more innovative approach to the area and to consider having more small business there, which would be in keeping with the historical area, so that it would be a living street? People lived there for hundreds of years, and there is also the street trading tradition. Such an approach would make the street a vibrant, living street again.

Regarding the monument, is the Minister sure that it will be curated, restored and preserved in accordance with best international practice?

On the last question, I am certain that it will be done according to best international practice. A steering committee is being established to oversee the project. It will include officials from my Department, the National Monuments Service, the Office of Public Works, the National Archives, the National Museum and Dublin City Council.

I am very satisfied that the steering committee has a lot of expertise and a huge amount of interest in this building. On Tuesday, Catriona Crowe from the National Archives and Lar Joye from the National Museum were in the building with me as I went through it again. It is important that it is done carefully and that it is restored to its 1916 condition. Deputy O'Sullivan has been there. There are holes in the wall and one can see where the tunnel was broken through. It is important that that is illustrated properly and that the bricks that were put in are taken out carefully. There is a lot of work to be done but I have no doubt that everyone will be working together to make sure it is done to the proper standard.

The Minister seems to be adopting the Chartered Land ministerial order that was obtained under a planning application and which would also demolish the whole area around Nos. 14-17 Moore Street. It is important that what goes around the national monument is appropriate to it. I still do not understand why the Government had to buy back the national monument, which, as we know, was a derelict site.

Have there been any sanctions or fines for Chartered Land? It held Nos. 14-17 Moore Street for a number of years. Has it been fined for the way in which it allowed it to become so derelict? There were problems with the roof and the local authority had to step in at times. Chartered Land seems to have gotten away with anything it wanted to do there. It will demolish everything around it. It allowed a national monument to fall into disrepair and dereliction, yet there was no fine or sanction against it.

The €4 million figure has been in the public realm since 31 March 2015 when I announced the Government decision to acquire the national monument. This figure was arrived at in the usual commercial manner. The Deputy will recall that before the Government stepped in, Dublin City Council had turned down a deal involving the acquisition of the Moore Street national monument in part exchange for Nos. 24 and 25. As part of that proposed transaction, there was a €4 million price tag on Nos. 14-17 Moore Street. The €4 million was agreed upon by NAMA in the normal commercial manner. The wider transaction was rejected by the council, so the Government stepped in to save the national monument. There was a serious risk to the fabric of the buildings from continued non-intervention. Given the Government's commitment to safeguarding the site and making it publicly accessible during the centenary year, it was much better to move in, and we are using the existing planning application. Time is not on our side and the building is deteriorating all the time. We are using the existing planning permission and we can start now. Most of the works will be restoration work. Because of the particular circumstances of the project, involving historically unique and sensitive buildings, and the imminence of the 2016 centenary, I believe that this approach represents the most practical means of delivering a 2016 commemorative centre.

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