Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 January 2024
181. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the plans for the development of the Sean McDermott Street Magdalene Laundry; the timelines for the project; the timing of the availability of the detailed design of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3136/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2022 Government approved high level proposals for the National Centre for Research and Remembrance to be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry in Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1 to comprise:
• a museum and exhibition space, the development of which will be led by the National Museum of Ireland
• a research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, which will form part of the National Archives
• a place for reflection and remembrance
• social housing
• educational and community facilities
A Steering Group, chaired by Mr Martin Fraser, former Secretary General to the Government and Ambassador to the United Kingdom, was established in April 2022 and is driving the overall coordinated development of the National Centre.
In July 2022, Dublin City Council voted to transfer the site of the former Magdalen Laundry at Sean McDermott Street to the OPW, to be developed as the National Centre. The OPW is continuing essential maintenance works on the site to facilitate safe and full access and necessary building surveys.
In July 2023 Government approved the masterplan for the National Centre campus as well as the preliminary business case for the main National Centre building structures - the museum, research centre and repository. Government also approved, in principle, proposals for the wider National Centre campus as follows:
• social housing, configured to universal design standards and appropriate to the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities within the North East Inner City;
• the development of a lifelong learning hub for the provision of further and higher education and;
• facilities for the provision of community-based family and parenting supports.
The masterplan for the site can be viewed on the National Centre website: www.gov.ie/nationalcentre.
In approving the masterplan, Government also approved plans for an initial public consultation on specific elements of the Centre. This consultation ran from July to September 2023. Responses from the consultation, which are currently being analysed, will directly inform the ongoing work on the development of the National Centre. Further targeted consultations on specific elements of the National Centre will take place in due course with updates posted on the National Centre website.
The development of the National Centre is multi-annual in nature and is currently in the planning stages. Under the auspices of the Steering Group, extensive work is continuing on the development of a detailed and costed project plan including timelines for development, with a number of Government departments and agencies - including the national cultural institutions - acting in partnership.
As the planning phase progresses, Government will be in a position to provide an indicative timeline for the project.
