National Monuments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024

Tuesday, 9 April 2024

Ceisteanna (619)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

619. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason, regarding the Moore Street area, which holds the oldest surviving street market in Ireland, a 1916 battleground and a not yet officially recognised World Heritage History site, awaiting official recognition, his Department and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage at the time in February 2017 challenged the ruling made in terms of the Moore Street area as a "national historical monument"; if he agrees that the area needs to be conserved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13942/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Legal proceedings to stop works on the 1916 Commemorative Centre project were initiated in the High Court against the State in the High Court in early 2016. At the same time the buildings were occupied illegally by protestors opposed to the project.

While the High Court held on 18 March 2016, inter alia, that areas of Moore Street and surrounding streets were national monuments as had been sought by the applicant in the proceedings on 14 February, 2018 the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court judgment and reaffirmed that the power to determine what constituted a national monument was vested in the Minister and that the Minister did not require planning permission for works on national monument sites.

The area surrounding the national monument is in the ownership of a private developer whose plans are currently going through the planning processes. Accordingly, I am precluded from commenting on this matter.